Strikers told to stay home next week

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi has called on public servants to stay home on Monday and Tuesday next week.

As Minister of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi arrived to address a massive protesting crowd in Pretoria, Vavi told the public servants the department is robbing them.

“We are here to tell them that they are going to have the longest summer of their experience,” he said.

Vavi said to applause that a director general in the public service received a 6,5% increase, which equated to R4 000.

“I can guarantee you that they would not give themselves 5% or even 5,5% … they will make sure that they give themselves a living wage,” he said.

Vavi said government employees are living in a corrupt society in which ministers are taking advantage of the workers in the lower ranks.

He lashed out at the South African Broadcasting Corporation, accusing it of not reporting anything negative about the government.

“There are no SABC cameras covering the protest because they were told not to cover it by the government,” Vavi said to much applause and angry outbursts.

‘Total civil disobedience’

Public service unions in KwaZulu-Natal have threatened to organise a “total shutdown” on Monday and Tuesday if the government does not respond to their memorandum in 48 hours.

Officials said on Thursday said the shutdown will take the form of “total civil disobedience and stayaways”.

They also asked for the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration to facilitate deadlocked pay negotiations.

Earlier, the strikers had marched from Curries Fountain to the Durban City Hall, where they handed over a memorandum.

The memorandum was accepted by provincial education minister Ina Cronje, safety and security minister Bheki Cele and the speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, Willis Mnchunu.

Cronje thanked the marchers for the “mature way” in which their protest was conducted, saying: “We respect your right to strike.”

By the time the marchers had dispersed, police said there had been no incidents.

Dead end

Public servants protesting outside the main entrance of Parliament in Cape Town handed over a memorandum warning that should the government not negotiate in good faith, the public service is headed for a crisis.

“It is clear that despite all efforts from the side of labour to find common ground, negotiations have reached a dead end,” read the memorandum.

It was handed over to Western Cape education minister Cameron Dugmore and Western Cape director general Gilbert Lawrence on the instructions of the Cabinet.

The memorandum reiterated the call for a 7% increase across the board for 2004 and CPIX plus a real wage increase for 2005/06 and 2006/07, as well as a review of the pay progression system with sufficient funds for implementation in April 2006.

Unions also want a universal medical-aid allowance with an increase in the current employer contribution, and a universal housing allowance payable to all public servants, among other demands.

“We remain hopeful that the employer will seriously address these issues so that further escalation of industrial action can be avoided. The responsibility for preventing such a crisis now lies in the hands of the employer,” concluded the memorandum.

Earlier, approximately 17 000 strikers snaked their way through central Cape Town, the main body stretching at times over several city blocks.

Marshals at times struggled to contain the mass of people, especially after a vanguard of protesters ran the last few hundred metres. At least one striker was manhandled by police after crossing a temporary police barrier.

The strikers were kept away from the tall iron gates of Parliament by a line of barrier tape, backed by a double row of police with plastic riot shields and more police inside the gates.

The police’s area crime combating unit, which specialises in urban crowd control and which had special equipment jackets with teargas and pepper spray, was also deployed when Dugmore and Lawrence walked through a section of the crowd to accept the memorandum.

However, there were no incidents from the well-behaved protesters.

National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union second deputy president Michael Makwayiba, addressing journalists in an impromptu briefing, said the unions will not stop mobilisation as they prepare for what he termed “the big fight”.

He said if no solution to the salary impasse is reached by Friday, all unions and workers affiliated to Cosatu will take to the streets on Monday and Tuesday.

Protesters were also urged to support a South African Communist Party and Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union march, which will target banks on Friday.

Congress of South African Students (Cosas) Western Cape chairperson Siyabulela Sintwa, who earlier in the week expressed reservations about the march, was seen standing side by side with striking workers.

Sintwa said Cosas is supporting parents as well as teachers against the government.

He also warned that should a speedy resolution to the deadlock not be found, Cosas “will postpone all examinations to early next year”.

In addition to banners, the protesters carried a coffin-like cardboard box with the words “Geraldine” and a picture of the public service minister pasted on it. — Sapa