SARAH BULLEN and AFP, Cape Town | Thursday 9.20am
THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Wednesday said that it is confident that the dispute over public sector wage increases can be resolved through collective bargaining.
Twelve public service unions, three of which belong to Cosatu, are demanding an average wage increase of 7,3%, one percent above what government says is its final offer.
While the possibility of a strike remained, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Wednesday after a meeting of the federations’ special executive committee, unions prefer to return to the negotiating table. He said that Cosatu has “recommitted itself to supporting the public sector unions during this difficult current round of negotiations in line with the Special National Congress resolution.”
Cosatu leadership said it welcomes a statement issued by President Thabo Mbeki’s office on Tuesday in which he reiterated the government’s commitment to the principle of collective bargaining.
Moving on to other issues discussed in its special executive committee, Cosatu said it plans tackle job losses through a nationwide programme of protest action, which could culminate in a general strike next year. Various forms of protest action will start from February.
The federation’s 1,78-million members will hold a nationwide strike in May, if government and business do not address job losses, they said. Unemployment stands at about 30%, with 500000 jobs being lost in the last five years, according to the federation.
It says that it is too easy for employers to dismiss workers made redundant by company restructuring or sell-offs or the closure of plant. The federation also wants companies to be more responsible for the financial future of workers who are dismissed.