The Congress of SA Trade Unions has urged all South Africans to support its two-day strike against privatisation starting on Tuesday.
”The issues go beyond our own members,” the federation said in a statement on Monday.
”Privatisation affects all working and low-income people by making services more expensive and less accessible for the poor, and by cutting employment.”
Cosatu claimed that privatisation had destroyed over 100 000 jobs so far.
”With unemployment at almost 30%… this has a devastating impact on our communities. Young people, in particular face rising unemployment as private and public companies cut jobs.”
It furthermore accused the government of refusing even to discuss its demand for an end to privatisation of basic services.
”For this reason, we have had no choice but to go on strike.”
The federation was confident of massive support for its labour action. It said it expected all of its two million members would heed the call to stay away from work and take part in country-wide protest marches on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Non-Cosatu affiliated organisations like the SA National NGO Coalition, the Congress of SA Students and Aids lobby group, the Treatment Action Campaign, have also pledged their support.
Most of the pickets were due to start at 9am. This would be followed on Wednesday with a national stay-away. – Sapa