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The South African Communist Party and leaders (Cosatu) have been speaking at the National Union of Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union Day of Action in Pretoria.
Members meet outside union buildings to deliver their list of demands. Image: Kgomotso Modise / EWN
JOHANNESBURG – The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has reminded the government that they were only in power by their mobilization and not by their own actions.
The Communist Party of South Africa and Cosatu leaders have been speaking at the national day of action of the National Union of Education, Health and Allied Workers (Nehawu) in Pretoria.
They joined calls for safer working conditions for front-line workers in the fight against COVID-19, saying they had been provided substandard personal protective equipment.
Two hundred and forty health workers have lost their lives to the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, something union leaders have attributed to negligence by employers.
Red-clad protesters danced and chanted outside the Union Buildings gardens.
Workers accused employers of forcing them to return to work after being diagnosed with COVID-19 without proper evaluation.
They also criticized corruption with the COVID-19 relief fund, saying it was money that could have been used to meet the wage deal.
Cosatu President Zingiswa Losi said: “He can only govern because we mobilize beyond membership and we are telling the ANC leaders to run South Africa. You went to your conference and made a resolution, implement those resolutions. “
A memorandum was delivered to the acting CEO in the office of President Lusanda Mxenge, who promised to ensure that it reaches the president’s desk.
EXCESSIVE WORKERS, BAD PAYMENT
At the same time, Nehawu warned the government not to use COVID-19 as an excuse to rob workers of their legitimate earnings.
The union said its members were overworked but underpaid and forced to be exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic without quality personal protective equipment.
Secretary General Zola Sapheta has demanded that the government fill all vacant positions permanently.
“We have skeletons in hospitals because there are vacant positions, that cannot be discussed. Our members are contracting this disease and succumbing to the virus.
They also want a risk allowance for all front-line workers.
The union has given the government five days to respond to these demands; otherwise, they risk losing their vote in next year’s election.
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