The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Saturday reaffirmed its support for the ongoing public-service strike.
“Cosatu reaffirms its total support for the strike by the public-service unions for their fully justified demands for a living wage and better working conditions,” the organisation said in a statement.
Cosatu said it had noted the Labour Court interdict granted to the government to prevent essential services workers from participating in the strike.
The Labour Court also granted the interdict to prevent striking workers from intimidating non-striking employees and members of the public and to prevent damage to state property.
The Labour Court also ordered that the public-sector unions that are participating in the strike will pay the costs of the interdict application.
Cosatu asked the government to return to the bargaining council in order to resolve the dispute between itself and the public-service unions.
“Cosatu regrets the disruption to public services which the strike has caused and any violent incidents or damage to property, and maintains its insistence that all actions during the strike must be conducted in a peaceful, disciplined and lawful manner and condemns acts of violence or intimidation by anyone.”
The federation said, however, that not all the incidents could be attributed to striking workers.
“There is clear evidence of provocative actions by management and police.”
Cosatu also called for an urgent agreement on essential services to define which workers could be prohibited from striking.
It said it would oppose any attempt to use the interdict to force non-essential workers back to work. – Sapa