Socialist Action /September 1999
Strike Hits South Africa
In the largest labor action since apartheid ended, hundreds of thousands
of public workers held a one-day strike on Aug. 24.
The action was a sharp rebuke to the newly elected African National
Congress (ANC) government of Thabo Mbeki.
Twelve unions-representing over 800,000 workers-took part. They included
affiliates of the Congress of South African Trade Unions-a traditional ANC
ally-as well as the Federation of Unions of South Africa, which organizes
many white workers.
"This is a new South African labor movement in the making,"
said COSATU Gen. Secretary Zwelizima Vavi.
The workers are demanding a minimum 7.3 percent wage increase. But the
ANC government, in a violation of labor law, implemented a 6.3 percent increase
on its own, after bargaining had broken down.
Socialist Action /September 1999 |