Cosatu strike crosses through Durban

HUNDREDS of Cosatu members marched across the Durban CBD on Tuesday in a peaceful protest against government.

The march started in Curries Fountain, through West Street and ended at the South African Police Service headquarters on Bram Fischer Road.

The march was part of a coordinated movement by Congress of South African Trade Unions that were happening across the country.

ALSO READ: #CosatuNationalStrike: ‘We want adequate protection’, says healthcare workers (VIDEO)

The union highlighted various issues for their protest, namely government Covid-19 corruption, government’s reverse on the 2018 collective bargaining agreement, a moratorium on retrenchments and the end to gender-based violence among others.

In 2018, trade unions signed a collective agreement with the SA government committing to increase the salaries of public servants every year for three years till 2021.

Cosatu leadership now claim that government has reneged on this deal and are using the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse.

Berea Mail reported in July this year of senior eThekwini Municipality receiving a 6 per cent salary increase due to the collective bargaining agreement. 

ALSO READ: Cosatu strike set to bring Durban roads to a standstill

Edwin Mkhize, Provincial Secretary, read out the memorandum of demands.

“We heard that in government there’s a “no work no pay” policy for striking workers. We want to make it clear it is government that is on strike by not wanting to increase salaries,” he said.

Mkhize said the corruption was a major problem in government.

“We want to say to the ANC that our government is ruling through neoliberalism which has caused poverty through corruption by government employees and private businesses,” said Mkhize.

The memorandum was received by Kwazulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala.

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

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