Friday, October 07, 2016

COSATU: GOVERNMENT HAS IGNORED WORKERS FOR TOO LONG
Cosatu members hold up posters during a strike for decent work on Friday 7 October 2016
Picture: Gia Nicolaides/EWN.

Gia Nicolaides

JOHANNESBURG - Trade union federation Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has vowed to continue campaigning for decent jobs saying government has ignored the workers for too long.

Cosatu leaders say today’s national strike is the start of an ongoing campaign for decent jobs in South Africa.

Hundreds of union members are marching to the transport department and the Chamber of Mines this afternoon, where they’ll hand over a list of demands, including the scrapping of labour brokers, better wages and the implementation of a minimum wage.

Cosatu expected around 200,000 people to participate in its national strike today.

In Johannesburg, around 1,000 workers marched through the streets to demand a number of issues.

Workers have taken to the streets to highlight a number of issues affecting workers.

One municipal worker says he’s participating in the strike because he’s still waiting for a permanent position.

“We’re here to fight for permanent jobs. I have been a casual worker for three years.”

Cosatu leaders who led the march told workers that this strike marks just the beginning of their campaign.

“The leadership of the federation in Gauteng has agreed that from today, a luta continua, every month we’ll be targeting each and every house that we’ll visit today.

“We want a campaign that’s sustainable on a monthly basis.”

The union leaders handed over several memorandums of demand before gathering at Beyers Naude Square.

At the same time, the trade union federation says it supports the students who are fighting for free education.

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