COSATU Today | COSATU Press Statements |
PRINTCOSATU backs SATAWU strikers
The Congress of South African Trade Unions declares its100% solidarity with the 18000 members of our affiliate SATAWU who are on strike at Transnet, and pledges its full support for their just demands, including for a 15% wage increase.
As well as struggling for a living wage SATAWU is also fighting for two important and related principles on which COSATU has been campaigning strongly - decent work and closing the gap between the rich and the poor.
The federation agrees that the more than 5000 workers who are currently employed by Transnet on an apartheid-style annual contract basis should be employed on a permanent basis.
It is unacceptable that any state-owned enterprise should be employing workers on a casual basis. They should be setting an example by leading the way in implementing ANC policies on decent work and poverty alleviation, as adopted at the Polokwane conference.
In the interests of reducing the inequality gap, COSATU also agrees that the formula for annual bonuses must be renegotiated, so that we can put a stop to a disproportionate allocation of pay and bonuses going to senior managers.
COSATU calls upon Transnet management to return to the negotiating table immediately with a serious new offer so that the dispute can be settled. But until then the two million members of all COSATU affiliates will be right behind the SATAWU members on strike at Transnet. An injury to one is an injury to all!
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
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