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The South African Congress of Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Monday asked public and private sector employees to put down tools on Wednesday.
This is due, among other issues, to current wage disputes between the government and its employees.
The union also criticized socio-economic issues, including unemployment, inequality, and corruption related to Covid-19.
It encouraged its members in major cities to stay home, amid the pandemic, in an attempt to shut down workplaces.
Here are five things to know about the strike:
‘Socially distanced pickets’ and caravans
Cosatu Secretary General Bheki Ntshalintshali said the pickets will be decentralized and spread throughout South Africa to ensure social distancing as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19.
“We have a responsibility not to undermine this fight against the deadly coronavirus that has killed so many of our compatriots. We will start socially distancing pickets and caravans in all nine provinces and in many of our identified towns and cities.
“This will ensure that our workers are involved and able to participate from across the country, but also our activity to not spread this deadly virus.”
Strike success
Ntshalintshali said that the success of the strike will not be measured by the number of striking employees, but by the number of workplaces that will be closed.
“As a union, we have agreed that we are going to measure the strike by the number of people who are going to stay home. This is a call to stay at home and days after the strike we will be able to indicate how many workplaces did not open and how many workers were affected ”.
Fraudulent claims from Ters
Ntshalintshali said that the union had received reports from its members about companies fraudulently claiming and receiving money from Covid-19 FIU Ters. The union advised them to open criminal cases against those employers.
“Our members have reported a number of cases to the point where employers have returned almost R3bn to the FIU. The companies claimed this money even though the employees were working. It’s corruption of some kind. “
Hospitals are understaffed
Cosatu vice president Mike Shingange said some unions had already started “pickets at lunchtime” to protest against working conditions.
He added that public hospitals are understaffed and employees do more work than they are paid.
“You have nurses who are doubling down as porters and cleaners. We are saying no again when there are no incentives to recognize that these employees are doubling down. We will not use ourselves to act in positions for which we are not paid. We will work only for what we are designated for ”.
Corruption
Second Vice President Louisa Thipe said the union will call on the government to act tough against corruption, including the asbestos project in the Free State and gender violence (GBV).
“The anger of the young comrades in Bloemfontein [regarding the asbestos project] shows that corruption affects us all. We will also go out on the street with that topic. [Free State residents] could have benefited.
“With regard to gender-based violence, we are not sure if there is an element of anger among the perpetrators. We hit the streets, but the next day, you will still find children, the elderly and young women are still being killed. We want the government to present a tangible solution. If necessary, these perpetrators should even get bail. “
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