Strike action on the electricity crisis 07-07-08

 

Strike action on the electricity crisis

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has noted that Mondi Limited have today failed in their application to the Durban Labour Court for an interdict to ban their employees and trade union members from taking strike action on the issue of the electricity crisis in South Africa, as set out in COSATU’s Notice under Section 77 (1) (b) of the Labour Relations Act, dated 13 March 2008.

Workers must therefore rest assured that all those who participate in the strike will be protected by law and cannot legally be victimised or punished, except for those performing genuinely essential services and who do essential maintenance work.

Accordingly COSATU will continue with strike action, starting on 9 July 2008 in KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape, followed by Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape on 16 July and Gauteng, Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo on 23 July, culminating in a national strike on 6 August.

The Court has however restricted the strike action to the electricity crisis, which is what this strike was always about. It is not on the issues of a moratorium on job losses, the fuel, food inflation and interest rate escalations and wage increases. These are issues on which the federation continues to engage through Nedlac and other forums.

COSATU has been ordered not to display posters and placards or make statements that undermine the order that the strike is solely about the electricity crisis. Workers are determined to bring home to government and business the extent of their anger and determination not to have to pay the price for an electricity crisis for which they are not responsible.

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets

Braamfontein, 2017

P.O. Box 1019

Johannesburg, 2000

SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24

Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667

Cell: 0828217456

E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za