Cosatu concerned at petrol price hike 03-04-07

 

COSATU concerned at petrol price hike

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is deeply concerned at the likely consequences of today's record rise in the price of petrol.

As always the poor will be hardest hit by the inevitable increases in public transport fares and the price of food and other essentials. Workers and students will have to pay even more to get to and from their workplaces and classes.

Given the inevitable impact of this hike on the overall rate of inflation, COSATU unions, when bargaining for wage increases, will be looking to compensate their members for the increase in their cost of living.

We recognise that the main reason for the increase is the global rise in the price of crude oil, and that the South African government cannot be blamed for this. We would however urge that the government increase subsidies for public transport and invests more in improving the quality and efficiency of public transport, particularly in poorer communities.