SOUTH AFRICA: Municipal workers suspend strike

The South African Municipal Workers Union "suspended" its week-long strike on August 15 despite the wage dispute between it and South Africa's mainly ANC-controlled local councils remaining unresolved. SAMWU is demanding increases of up to 9%, while the employers have imposed a 6% rise. The union's spokesperson Roger Ronnie said SAMWU was concerned that the strike would become counter-productive if it continued. The strike crippled council services around the country with no rubbish collected and bus services suspended. Hundreds of SAMWU members were arrested and union protests were attacked by police using tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades. On August 18, more than 200 members of the union appeared in the Rustenburg magistrates court. The arrested workers are alleged to have intimidated and assaulted non-striking workers.

From Green Left Weekly, August 24, 2005.

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From GLW issue 639