South African public sector workers during the strike in 2007. The COSATU trade union federation has threatened to strike again over the current energy crisis in the country.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Cosatu to strike over power hikes
Thu, 27 Mar 2008
Unions have called on government to place a moratorium on electricity tariff hikes or face protest action, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Wednesday.
Eskom has requested a 60 percent price increase from the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa).
"The Congress of SA Trade Unions and the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) have already applied for section 77 notices, which would allow them to embark on protected strike action," said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven.
The union federations have reportedly said government could not expect the poor to pay for its poor planning.
Labour representatives met government at the National Economic Development and Labour Council on Wednesday to discuss, what they called "shocking increases".
Cosatu said a task team must be established to deal with the electricity crisis. The union federations said workers were already battling with high fuel and food prices and could not be burdened with unfair increases.
According to Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin, it would be best to take on the increases now rather than wait until 2009 when prices could be increased by 100 percent.
Sapa
No comments:
Post a Comment