The South African Chamber of Business (Sacob) says protests, such as those planned by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in May, can only damage the economy and add to general impoverishment.
Sacob was responding to Cosatu’s intention to continue with protest action during four specific days in May.
“Sacob accepts that the objective of the protest is to highlight the general concern over unemployment. However, the chamber does not believe that such protest action fulfils a constructive solution to the problem. The Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa programme is designed to work towards such a solution and certainly does not include disruptions in the form of industrial action. Protests of this nature can only damage the economy and add to general impoverishment,” a spokesperson for Sacob said.
Following the conclusion of its recent two-day national office-bearers’ meeting, Cosatu announced plans to hold sectoral meetings preceded by demonstrations this month ahead of a series of strikes in May.
Cosatu bosses assessed its state of readiness to take the jobs and poverty campaign to “new heights”, the trade union federation said in a recent statement.
“We are satisfied that our affiliates, and other structures … are doing the best they can do to mobilise members to mobilise in their millions in the campaign.”
Cosatu’s membership base is estimated at more than two million.
“We are satisfied that our locals are hard at work picketing and demonstrating against employers who continue to retrench, casualise or practise discrimination against workers. We call on all who have yet to begin to embark in these demonstrations to do so and to ensure that our members are ready for the May 2006 strikes.”
Cosatu manufacturing sector-related affiliates will hold meetings on April 19 followed by those from the services sector on April 20, while mining and construction gets its turn on April 24 with a public sector meeting set for the following day.
These sectoral summit meetings and demonstrations will see Cosatu members in the manufacturing sector embarking on a strike on May 9, public sector servants on May 11 followed by mining and services on May 16 and 18 respectively.
The federation said the focus for this year’s May Day, or Workers’ Day, is also on Aids. The theme is: “Aids is a new struggle — each one teach one. Test, Treat and Fight For Life.”
“This is an attempt to focus all our energies on what has become the second biggest challenge after unemployment and poverty,” the federation said.
According to Cosatu and its partners in the People’s Budget Campaign, more than 500Â 000 South Africans need anti-retroviral treatment. In contrast, only 75Â 000 people in the public sector presently receive it. — I-Net Bridge