COSATU marches against rising cost of living, says workers battling to keep up
COSATU is holding a nationwide strike on Monday, to highlight the plight of workers as the world observes World Day for Decent Work.
- Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Rising cost of living
- Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)
COSATU members at George Lea Park on Monday, 7 October 2024 ahead of their march to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in light of World Day for Decent Work . Picture: EWN/Jacques Nelles
JOHANNESBURG -The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says the inflation rate is outpacing worker salaries.
COSATU is holding a nationwide strike to highlight the plight of workers on Monday to mark World Day for Decent Work.
Hundreds of workers have gathered at the George Lea Park in Sandton to commemorate the day.
For many decades, COSATU has managed to consistently negotiate wage and salary increases for workers.
However, the trade union federation said the rising cost of living threatens to undo all its work.
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COSATU provincial chairperson, Amos Monyela said government needs to address the crisis of the rising cost of living.
"We need them to stop retrenchments, we need them to cushion workers in terms of the high rate of local municipality utilities for example the electricity and water hikes and the services they [workers]are paying are huge. Even some of the employers are trying to cushion workers but all this interest rate is taking back what those employers have put into the pockets of workers.”
The workers plan to end their march at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, which they say is the seat of capital in the country.
Amos Monyela, COSATU Gauteng Chairperson, said the rising cost of living is outpacing worker salaries.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 7, 2024
Monyela said government can help cushion workers by not effecting high water and electricity hikes. TCG pic.twitter.com/xY9NtBcsYA
COSATU has hit back at suggestions that salaries for government workers are too high.
Recently, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube attributed the budget cuts in her department to many years of above-inflation wage increases for public servants.
COSATU said its trade unions were starting to face difficulties when dealing with the government.
Recently, the Tshwane municipality refused to implement agreed-upon wage increases saying it could not afford it, while last week the Emfuleni municipality didn’t pay its workers' salaries on time.
COSATU Gauteng chairperson, Amos Monyela said it was a myth that government workers are paid a lot.
“It is not correct that today you get a salary increase of 7% and tomorrow the interest rate is hiking, water and electricity prices are going up, it is not correct.”
Monyela added that corruption and mismanagement of public funds was what was bankrupting government.