Karima Brown and Amy Musgrave
5 September 2008
Johannesburg — THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has warned that SA should brace itself for another round of strikes over increases in the price of electricity.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi told reporters yesterday that although the union federation welcomed the government's agreement to fund R60bn needed for Eskom's recapitalisation, it would continue with mass action against the introduction of a 2c/kW electricity levy.
"We call on all our provincial and local structures as well as civil society formations who have formed a coalition with us to continue putting Eskom, the government and employers under pressure," he said.
Last month Cosatu brought key industrial sectors to a standstill when it took to the streets in provincial strikes and in one national stayaway over escalating food, electricity and fuel prices.
Cosatu deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshali-Ntshali said this action had brought concrete gains for workers. These included preventing threatened job losses as a result of the power crisis and ensuring that the electricity tariffs were much lower than the proposed 53%.
"It was not in vain, they (the workers) would have been worse off," he said.
Asked if workers would be prepared to down tools again and lose a day's wages, Vavi said: "They want a complete black Christmas."
Cosatu would decide at its November central executive committee meeting whether to proceed with the threatened strike.
Cosatu, which has been meeting key players at the National Economic Development and Labour Council over the electricity situation, is also involved in continued negotiations on food prices.
Vavi said a task-team had been established in an attempt to close the gap between the parties on the matter.
He said a number of measures had been agreed to, including the development of an agricultural trade and tariff policy, rehabilitating railway lines to support the transport of grains, and a process to engage suppliers like Sasol with a view to lowering input costs.
Cosatu would soon declare a deadlock on issues that could not be agreed on concerning food prices, and would continue its mass action against food retailers and manufacturers while deciding whether to embark on a national strike.
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