SOUTH AFRICA: Striking municipal workers arrested

Scores of South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) members have been arrested during protests around the country since the union launched an indefinite national strike on August 8 in demand of a living wage. The union is calling for wage increases of between 8% and 9%. The body representing South Africa's mostly ANC-controlled local councils unilaterally imposed an increase of just 6%. Militant protest marches throughout the country have been attacked by police. In Durban on August 8, police arrested 45 strikers during SAMWU marches. Ten marchers were injured by police, two seriously, in Germiston. Workers were also arrested in Lydenburg in Mpumalanga. In Cape Town on August 10, police used stun grenades, pepper spray and rubber bullets against marchers and arrested at least 27. Another 68 were arrested in Knysna. More than 3000 SAMWU workers marched in Johannesburg on August 11.

From Green Left Weekly, August 17, 2005.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 638