Morning Star *South African unions primed for more action* *John Haylett, Morning Star, London, 27 August 2010*South Africa's trade unions threw the gauntlet down to the African National Congress government this week, demanding a better deal for public-service workers or risk a wave of solidarity action.
Over a million members of education and health unions, led by Sadtu and Nehawu, have been on indefinite strike since August 18.
They want an 8.6 per cent pay rise plus a 1,000 rand monthly housing allowance.
Government negotiators increased their original 5.2 per cent offer plus 630 rand housing allowance to 7 per cent and 700 rand but have refused to budge any further.
The keen anger felt by the workers has taken even trade union leaders by surprise and has revealed itself in comments contrasting their lives with those of ministers and the political and business elite.
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi admitted that the federation had not wanted a confrontation and had advised the workers to accept the government offer.
But members had been "so angry" that they had told the leadership to insist on the full claim.
"We have to be loyal to our members. If they say this deal is not good enough, we have to march with them," Vavi said on Thursday, when the streets of many cities and towns turned red as tens of thousands of workers in their union T-shirts marched to press their case.
The Cosatu central executive committee (CEC) pledged its full support to the public service workers' strike and agreed to mobilise all Cosatu unions in solidarity action.
Affiliates submitted notices for secondary action in line with industrial relations law, which could see every trade unionist in South Africa on strike next Thursday if there is no settlement.
The CEC warned that it "will not allow a defeat of the public-sector workers. We know the full political and economic implications if the public-sector workers lose this battle."
It put forward a four-point call to arms to ensure that the strike does not fail.
First, it urged public-sector workers to intensify the strike through a total shutdown of the public sector.
Second, it issued the call for a solidarity strike. Explaining this initiative, Vavi said: "All Cosatu unions, in both the public and private sectors, will embark on a sympathy strike."
Third, the union leadership called on members of the police unions POPCRU and SAPU and all law enforcement officials "not to allow the employer to use them to crush the strike."
There have already been several instances of police forces deploying water cannon and rubber bullets against strikers just weeks after those same forces had complied with instructions to use peaceful methods of crowd control during the football World Cup.
Vavi asked police officers responsible: "Why rubber bullets now? Why are you shooting at your own colleagues? Why are you dragging your own mothers in the streets as if they are dogs? Where is solidarity?"
Fourth, the union federation appealed to civil society to support the strike and to respect picket lines.
The government has tried to undermine the strike by not only deploying troops but also inviting volunteers into hospitals to do trade unionists' work.
"Volunteering is equal to scabbing and scabbing does deepen frustrations and anger amongst workers," the CEC explained.
"This is what normally creates violence between workers on strike and those seen by workers to be taking their jobs and undermining their legitimate demands."
Some unions have shown their solidarity by not waiting until next Thursday.Municipal workers, members of Samwu, walked out in some provinces yesterday and will do likewise on Monday, shutting down services, "including water, customer service, Metro Police and municipal clinics, to show support for our colleagues," said Samwu spokesman Tahir Sema.
Even soldiers' unions Sandu and Sasfu speak of taking action in solidarity with the strikers.
Highlighting the danger of soldiers being seen as scab labour, Sandu spokesperson Jeff Dubazana said: "We are not going to allow our workers to be seen in that particular fashion."
And Bhekinkoso Mvovo of SASFU, which proclaims itself as Soldiers Advancing Working Class Power, commented: "As the workers in uniform, we are greatly concerned about the government's lack of commitment to end the strike with a proper offer that will meet the genuine demands of the public service workers."
Cosatu concluded its appeal by stressing the government's responsibility "to end the strike by bringing a new offer to the table."
South Africa's media is speculating that this dispute could mark a parting of the ways between the unions and the ANC and Vavi has also been critical recently of some aspects of the conduct of the Communist Party (SACP), of which he is a member.
However, the federation confirmed that it will support ANC candidates in forthcoming local elections with the exception of those identified by Vavi as "candidates known to be thieves or lazy just because they succeed in manipulating the ANC internal processes."
And Cosatu reaffirmed its consistent political position by declaring: "We must continue to push back the capitalist domination in delivery of basic services today, in line with the SACP slogan that says: 'Socialism is the future; build it now'."
*From: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/94564*
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