Big thanks to a NEFAC comrade for sending these along–

A Message from the South African Municipal Workers Union:
“An injury to one is an injury to all”
Cape Town 27 July 2009

SAMWU members came out in full-force this morning in support of the nation-wide wage-related strike. Marches are happening in all the major centres – Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Sol Plaatjie, as well as in many of the smaller municipalities ranging from Bredasdorp, Mossel Bay and Beaufort West. In other municipalities workers are picketing the municipal offices.

Our structures report massive support for the strike, with many services, such as refuse removal, traffic, water maintenance, revenue collection not operating. In many centres, both SAMWU and IMATU members are marching and picketing side by side.

In Johannesburg 10 000 workers marched to Mary Fitzgerald Square where a defiant mood reigned. Salga’s position was rejected whilst the members reaffirmed Samwu’s demand for a 15% wage increase and a housing subsidy based on a R200 000 house.

In Cape Town 3 000 workers marched to the provincial offices of the employers’ organisation, Salga, to hand over a memorandum reasserting the union’s key demands of a living wage of R4000, filling of the 25% vacant posts in the sector and the improvement of the housing benefit.

In Durban 5 000 workers marched and are now picketing workplaces to ensure that no scabs perform the work of the strikers.

The actions around the country are being conducted in a peaceful and disciplined manner by our members. We are, however, outraged at reports of police action against our members in Polokwane, where workers have been shot at, and arrested.

Contact General Secretary Mthandeki Nhlapo on 021 697 1151; or Deputy General Secretary Walter Theledi on 011 331 0334 or Collective Bargaining Officer Dale Forbes at 021 6971151.

Footage from South Africa:

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8169843.stm

Striking South African municipal workers have emptied piles of rubbish onto the streets.

Police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Limpopo Province, who police said had become “disorderly”.

The ruling ANC has reportedly condemned the workers’ behaviour. Recent strikes and unrest are seen as the major challenges for President Jacob Zuma.

About 150,000 workers have stopped work demanding a 15% pay rise.

Workers say they are unable to make a living from their current wages because of high food prices.

Strike season

President Zuma has called for understanding from workers, but the BBC’s Jonah Fisher in Johannesburg says crowd-pleasing promises he made during his election campaign are proving hard to keep.

Our correspondent says a pledge to create 500,000 new jobs has already been retracted.

Jonah Fisher among the protesters in Johannesburg

In recent weeks, there have been violent protests over the lack of housing, water and electricity in the poorest townships.

Dale Forbes, from the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), said most members had heeded the strike call.

He said he was confident the public was backing the strike.

“They want to see dramatic improvements in service delivery – which must start with improvements in the conditions of the workers,” he said.

Services such as Johannesburg’s Metro Bus service are not operational.

The Metro Police who are in charge of traffic policing in the country’s major cities are also taking part in the strike.

Members of Samwu and other unions walked out after being denied a 15% wage increase. They rejected an offer of 11.5%.

The country has already faced a major strike by construction workers, which threatened stadiums being built for next year’s football World Cup.

That strike was ended earlier this month after workers and employers agreed a 12% pay rise.

Mr Zuma took power in May after an election campaign in which he pledged to ease poverty.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!