SOUTH AFRICA: Municipal workers launch indefinite strike

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) will embark on an indefinite strike from August 8 in support of its demands for a living wage. This follows a three-day strike that began on July 27, along with large marches in most major cities. On July 28, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at more than 2000 strikers who gathered at the Johannesburg Civic Centre. Although the union has lowered its demand to 8% from 9%, the South African Local Government Association organisation has already imposed a 6% wage increase. SAMWU has called on the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party to support strikers' demands. The Anti-Privatisation Forum, which has backed the strikers, said in an August 4 statement: "The main impetus behind the strike lies directly at the doorstep of the ANC government's continued embracing of capitalist, neoliberal policies ... The basic demands [of the] SAMWU strike are the same demands that millions of workers put forward when they placed the ANC into government in the last three elections ... a living wage for all workers ... the public provision of free basic services for the majority who are poor, a job-creating economy ... [and] redistribution of wealth to create a lasting social and economic equality."

From Green Left Weekly, August 10, 2005.

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From GLW issue 637