General strike over employment conditions
On 2 June, more than two millions workers responded to the call by COSATU for a 24 hour general strike in support of demands for better conditions of employment. In all cities and towns, workers also attended marches and rallies, except in KwaZulu natal where a stay away was called. Reports thus far indicate that well over a quarter of a million attended rallies and marches.
This was the third since the 1994 elections. As is often the case, most commentators have claimed that the action means that the Alliance [between the ANC, Communist Party and COSATU] is about to collapse. Nothing can be further from the truth. The ANC and the Communist party have supported the need for the broadest mobilisation of workers in support of the need for progressive legislation. In general, legislative proposals by the government are aimed at correcting the imbalances and injustices of the apartheid era."
COSATU's demands include
• a 45 hour working week immediately, and a phased reduction to 40 hours/week over five years. The confederation estimates that the reduction to 45 hours will benefit "more than 2 million workers most of whom are unorganised or vulnerable." • Six months maternity leave of which at least 4 months should be paid. The government is only proposing an increase from 3 to 4 months. Women's social security (UIF) benefits should not be exhausted during maternity leave. "As a movement committed to women's equality, we will fight this one to the bitter end. • resistance to "the potential of "downward variation" under the guise of "flexibility", which would be an erosion of workers' basic rights; and the extensive discretion of the Minister to vary (including potentially downgrade) the basic conditions of workers. • "We reject the employers' demand that Sunday work be regarded as a normal day. In this regard we agree with the government approach even though there are areas that require tightening. * Source: COSATU press statement "Defend, Consolidate and advance transformation, ," 2 June 1997
Che Guevara