COSATU+on+Strike+Statistics+060922

COSATU PRESS STATEMENT - 22 September 2006
=Striking statistics=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is not surprised at the Reserve Bank report that the number of working days lost from strikes rose from about 700,000 in the first half of last year to 1,6 million in the first half this year, the highest figure in ten years, nor that, according to a report by the Labour Research Services, there were 102 strikes last year, mostly over wages.

These strikes, the majority of them organised by COSATU-affiliated trade unions, reflect a growing anger amongst all workers, but especially the lowest paid, that they are being marginalised and left behind by an economic ’boom’ which has delivered nothing to them.

They are also a symptom of the gross inequality which blights our society. Workers who see their employers getting bigger and bigger salaries and bonuses are determined to fight to get a bigger share of the cake and start to escape from the grinding poverty in which so many of them live.

The strikes are also a crushing answer to the lie that COSATU is neglecting its central responsibility to defend and improve the lives of the workers and the poor, and has lost touch with its core constituency in favour of political campaigns, such as support for Jacob Zuma in his court battles.

Our demand for the dropping of the corruption charges and his reinstatement as Deputy President is based on support for basic principles of human rights to justice and fairness. Such political campaigns have in no way been at the expense of demands on their basic bread-and-butter demands.


 * Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)**
 * Congress of South African Trade Unions**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets**
 * Braamfontein, 2017**

P.O.Box 1019

 * Johannesburg, 2000**
 * SOUTH AFRICA**


 * Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667**
 * Cell: 0828217456**
 * E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**

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