TRAFFIC flowing into major centres was backed up on Wednesday, ahead of a planned nationwide strike by the Congress of South African Trade Unions to protest job losses and retrenchments. The strike is expected to cost the country R3,2-billion. Cosatu said the strike has been called because because mediation body Nedlac has “failed to address issues of national priority”, like the need for economic growth and the alleviation of unemployment and poverty. Public transport across the country is expected to grind to a halt after the Transport and General Workers’ Union signalled it will also participate in the strike. The Business Day reports that Cosatu and business on Tuesday agreed during a meeting to address the issues behind the industrial action. Despite initially supporting the strike, the ANC in an eleventh hour about-turn called for teachers not to participate in the strike saying it will “disadvantage students”, The Citizen reports. Cosatu said it will decide on May 16 if further action is necessary.