Members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) gathered in the city yesterday (Wednesday) for a planned march to the Office of the Premier, Eskom Regional Office and South African Revenue Services to submit memorandums of demands.
The march is part of the Cosatu’s National Day of Action with the intention of submitting memorandums of demand including that the proposal for an increase in value added tax be rejected, that pending retrenchments be halted, and a national minimum wage be implemented.
Cosatu Second Deputy President, Zingiswa Losi said they are angry about the state of public transport in the country. “We reiterate our call for a safe, reliable, affordable, accessible and efficient public transport system. The system is too fragmented and should be better coordinated. Every day, we hear and see carnage on the roads. Every day you as workers are fighting with your bosses and some losing jobs because the public transport system is unreliable. Our trains do not run on time. Our roads cannot handle the traffic in big cities. Our rural roads are in a state of disrepair and there are not enough buses,” Losi said.
“We also demand decent jobs that pay decent salaries. We say down with the apartheid wage structure and discriminatory grading systems. It is time for a new wage policy for the country. Down with poverty wages,” Losi stressed.
At the time of going to press, the arrival of members from elsewhere in the province were being awaited before the march could commence.
Story: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za
Featured photo: Members of Cosatu gathered at SABC Park before the start of the march yesterday (Wednesday).
