Nationwide strike now threatened

STEVEN TAU and SAPA

JOHANNESBURG - All government workers could strike, bringing the country to a standstill if municipal workers do not get what they want by tomorrow.

Trade union federation Cosatu says it will not ask the ANC for permission to fight for its members’ rights as they are not the ruling party’s labour desk.

Cosatu’s Dumisani Dakile was addressing thousands of SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) members who marched to the Gauteng department of local government yesterday.

He warned that if a solution was not found to the wage impasse between Samwu and the SA Local Government Association (Salga) tomorrow, the industrial action could be extended to all public servants countrywide.

Speaking on behalf of Samwu, deputy general secretary Walter Thibedi said if the employer body, Salga, failed to understand what workers’ concerns and demands were, there would be trouble.

A memorandum of demands was handed over and accepted by officials from the local government department.

Before the march proceeded to the department’s offices yesterday, marchers converged on the Mary Fitzgerald Square where they clearly showed their reluctance to accept Salga’s revised 13% wage offer.

Samwu’s provincial secretary Vincent Vena said at least four provinces have rejected the offer so far.

“We are just waiting for a response from our members in the five other provinces and if they all reject Salga’s offer, then we will continue with the strike. We will be meeting with Salga today.”

The striking workers were singing loudly, blowing vuvuzelas and hoisting placards which read: “Sorry Zuma, the cost of living is too high, blame Thabo Mbeki” and “Down with 13%, forward with 15%”.

It remains to be seen if the formal response by Samwu to Salga today will bring an end to the strike, which entered its third day yesterday, or if it will prolong it.

Meanwhile protest marches by Free State municipal workers also continued yesterday in Bloemfontein, Welkom and some smaller Free State towns.

In Bloemfontein about 150 Samwu members marched to the Mangaung local municipality’s head office.

Free State Samwu organiser Milton Myolwa told the small gathering the new government had prioritised service delivery, but forgotten the people at the forefront of that delivery.

“We stand for 15%,” he said.

Salga is offering unions 11,5% from July 1 this year, plus another 1,5% in January next year, resulting in a 13% increase.