Cheche,+Council+workers+to+join+strike,+News24

News24, 24 June
=Council workers to join strike= Johannesburg - The SA Municipal Workers Union will join Cosatu's general strike against unemployment and job losses and "bring Johannesburg to a standstill" on Monday, Samwu said.

Spokesperson Cheche Selepe said over 120 000 Samwu members would join Monday's nationwide protest in solidarity with the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu).

Selepe said 25 000 municipal workers have lost their jobs in recent years and the union believes the number will increase.

He said the number of municipal workers had fallen to 195 000.

"Low level workers have been the ones most affected.

"The loss of jobs is because of privatisation and a declining growth in jobs in municipalities. And these vacancies are not even being filled," he said.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, Cosatu's general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said things were "not going well for the working class in South Africa."

"The unemployment rate is 40% if we count all those who want work, and close to 30%, using the narrower definition that counts as unemployed only workers actively seeking work," Vavi said.

The federation said the aim of the strike was to "hurt", and described the unemployment rate as a crisis.

Selepe said the protest came at a time when Samwu was at a "militant position."

"The strike comes a few days before our July 5 strike (over) wages increases.

"We are fully behind Cosatu and we are going to use Monday's industrial action to prepare ourselves for more battles ahead."

He said the July 5 industrial action would be supported by members of the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union, bringing the number of participants close to 200 000.

Selepe said Samwu members in KwaZulu-Natal would march to Ulundi on Monday to protest against the municipality's "failure" to implement the 2003 wage agreement.

He said the agreement had set the minimum wage for workers at R2 100 a month.

"We are also mobilising non-union members to join in the strike.

"We also call on community members to support the action as the aim is to minimise poverty," said Selepe.


 * Edited by Adrienne Taylor**


 * From: http://www.finance24.com/articles/default/display_article.asp?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-24_1726834