Image: Nqubeko Mbhele
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has issued a list of 11 demands it wants met before the planned “national shutdown” on March 20.
The federation will join the EFF in its “mother of national shutdowns” against load-shedding and other service delivery issues.
“Food and transport have become more expensive. If you loan money, you must pay it back at higher rates. Meanwhile‚ workers’ wage[s] have been declining while bosses’ profit has increased.
“The are more than 11-million unemployed people in South Africa. To live‚ the unemployed and lowest paid workers must received [a] basic income grant of R1‚500 and a job guarantee scheme‚” Saftu said.
Saftu’s demands are:
jobs for the unemployed at a living wage;
end load-shedding;
implement a universal basic income grant;
lower the cost of living;
a minimum wage of R72 per hour for all workers;
end crime and violence against women and children;
transition to renewable energy without job losses;
renationalise certain entities‚ including SAA;
reverse budget cuts and increase government spending in critical areas of service delivery;
expand the public sector wage bill for better pay for teachers‚ nurses‚ officers and social workers; and
pay government workers well and protect collective bargaining.
Saftu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said the union had agreed to participate after the EFF requested it.
Source: ARENA Holdings.
