http://themilitant.com/2018/8219/821955.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 82/No. 19 May 14, 2018
South Africa workers strike, protest for wage raise, rights
BY VED DOOKHUN
Tens of thousands of workers joined in a one-day strike and protests in
cities and rural areas across South Africa April 25 called by the South
African Federation of Trade Unions. They demanded a significant raise in
the African National Congress-led government’s proposal to set the
national minimum wage at 20 rand an hour ($1.61) and opposed new
legislation aimed at restricting workers’ constitutional right to strike.
The wage bill sets even lower minimum wages for farmworkers, who would
receive 18 rand per hour; domestic workers, 15 rand; and those on
extended public works programs, 11 rand an hour. Farmworkers and
domestic workers would not get the new rates until 2020.
The proposal is being pushed by Cyril Ramaphosa, the new South African
president, who says it will help reduce wage inequality. But even his
official spokesman Khusela Diko admits, “The president recognizes that
the national minimum wage is not a living wage.”
This was the first national strike and protest called by the South
African Federation of Trade Unions, a newly formed organization with a
membership of 800,000 and 30 affiliated unions. It broke away last year
from the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the ANC-aligned labor
federation. Cosatu and its affiliates opposed the actions.
Ramaphosa, originally trained as a lawyer, had been head of the National
Union of Miners and a central leader of the ANC before he left politics
in 1997 and became a wealthy business and banking magnate. He has said
his goal is to make South African capitalism work.
The South African Federation of Trade Unions describes the proposed
minimum wage as a “poverty wage.” It is demanding a minimum monthly pay
of 12,500 rand, about $1,000, a demand first raised by platinum miners
who went on strike in 2012.
“This comes from the miners at Marikana who raised this as a perfectly
reasonable living wage,” Patrick Craven, national spokesperson for the
union federation, said in a phone interview. He was referring to the
2012 strike by platinum miners at the Lonmin mine where 34 miners where
massacred by the police. “Miners died demanding a living wage,” he added.
Ramaphosa was a company director at Lonmin when the strike and killings
took place.
The city center of Johannesburg was brought to a standstill by several
thousand workers in a sea of red shirts marching by government
buildings. Demonstrations also took place in Cape Town, Durban, Port
Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and Polokwane, as well as in rural areas.
Several hundred farmworkers marched in Robertson in the Western Cape
protesting the special “poverty” wage proposed for them and against
conditions in the wine industry.
The strike comes as the official unemployment rate reached 27.7 percent,
and nearly 6 million workers don’t have jobs. The government increased
the sales tax from 14 to 15 percent, the first time it has been raised
since 1993, and raised the price of fuel.
The proposed laws would mean workers would have to meet more onerous
conditions before going on strike.
The bills were scheduled to be implemented by May 1, but have been sent
back to the labor ministry for redrafting.
Related articles:
Teacher battles: Example for all working people! Arizona teachers,
school workers get broad solidarity
Workers are starting to act up today. Join in!
On the Picket Line
‘Hardhat Mass’ marks deaths of construction workers
Denver rallies demand school funding, pay raises
W.Va. workers proud of victory of teachers strike there
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home