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Pretoria - Cosatu has more "creative ways" to make the e-tolling system an epic failure, general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Tuesday.
He told reporters in Pretoria if government went ahead with e-tolling on Gauteng freeways after Wednesday's strike, Cosatu would organise more strikes.
The nationwide strike is in protest against e-tolling and labour broking.
"Particularly on April 28... we are more likely to think about lots of creative ways which we have talked about which will make that whole (e-tolling) system unworkable... completely unworkable."
He said government would have to choose between the economy losing billions in the e-tolling battle or choose to negotiate with the organisation instead.
"Government has R300bn, it can't tell us that it can't get just R20bn from that R300bn to pay for public roads," he said.
Vavi said Wednesday's strike action is a sign that Cosatu is still willing to negotiate with government regarding the two issues.
"We are going to be listening very carefully in terms of what government is going to be saying... we are forcing government back to the negotiating table we are saying we remain open to talks, even at this moment," he said.
He said strike action is being used sparingly as it is a huge sacrifice for workers to lose a days' wages. He said teachers are also expected to participate in the strike.
"Teachers are workers too and they have the same rights as all other workers."
He said plans would have to be put in place to make up for the learning hours which would be lost on Wednesday.
Everybody and all organisations are welcome to participate in the strike except for those working in essential services.
Cosatu said it will not allow participating political parties to push their own agendas at the strike.
He said the attendance of ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema is placing Cosatu in a "tight corner".
Malema is in solidarity with the action and will march with protesters on Wednesday, said Vavi.
A total of 34 marches will be taking place across the country.
In Johannesburg protesters are expected to gather at the Library Gardens and proceed to the department of labour and then the department of transport.
He told reporters in Pretoria if government went ahead with e-tolling on Gauteng freeways after Wednesday's strike, Cosatu would organise more strikes.
The nationwide strike is in protest against e-tolling and labour broking.
"Particularly on April 28... we are more likely to think about lots of creative ways which we have talked about which will make that whole (e-tolling) system unworkable... completely unworkable."
He said government would have to choose between the economy losing billions in the e-tolling battle or choose to negotiate with the organisation instead.
"Government has R300bn, it can't tell us that it can't get just R20bn from that R300bn to pay for public roads," he said.
Vavi said Wednesday's strike action is a sign that Cosatu is still willing to negotiate with government regarding the two issues.
"We are going to be listening very carefully in terms of what government is going to be saying... we are forcing government back to the negotiating table we are saying we remain open to talks, even at this moment," he said.
He said strike action is being used sparingly as it is a huge sacrifice for workers to lose a days' wages. He said teachers are also expected to participate in the strike.
"Teachers are workers too and they have the same rights as all other workers."
He said plans would have to be put in place to make up for the learning hours which would be lost on Wednesday.
Everybody and all organisations are welcome to participate in the strike except for those working in essential services.
Cosatu said it will not allow participating political parties to push their own agendas at the strike.
He said the attendance of ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema is placing Cosatu in a "tight corner".
Malema is in solidarity with the action and will march with protesters on Wednesday, said Vavi.
A total of 34 marches will be taking place across the country.
In Johannesburg protesters are expected to gather at the Library Gardens and proceed to the department of labour and then the department of transport.
