COSATU Takes to the Streets Across South Africa Over Jobs, Wages and Rising Living Costs
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is staging nationwide protest action on Wednesday as workers raise concerns over job losses, wages, job security and the rising cost of living. The demonstrations coincide with the World Day for Decent Work, with marches and pickets planned in several parts of South Africa. COSATU says workers are facing growing pressure from retrenchments, non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage, casualisation and challenges to collective bargaining. COSATU spokesperson Zanele Sabela said the federation is particularly concerned about widespread retrenchments at a time when unemployment remains extremely high. Among the actions planned are demonstrations involving Massmart over workers dismissed from Makro and Sun International over planned job cuts. Protest activities are also expected in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, North West, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Mpumalanga. The federation is also calling for stronge...