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Cape Town – Cosatu says there will be a total of 32 marches
on Wednesday as part of the national strike action by the trade union
federation.
Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said the two largest
strikes will be in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“The other strikes will be just as important; these are
simply the two biggest ones.”
Cosatu is striking agains the contionued use of labour
brokers and the pending implementation of tolls on Gauteng highways.
“It’s not too late. We can still call off the strike,”
Craven told Beeld yesterday.
“If the governement comes out today and tells us it's banning
labour brokers and scrapping the etoll system, we’ll call off the strike.”
Cosatu Western Cape secretary Tony Ehrenreich told the
media yesterday that he expects around 30 000 people to march to parliament on
Wednesday.
“Cosatu strikes that are by Cosatu alone, generally attract
around 20 000 people. Along with the other parties, we expect a bigger turnup
on Wednesday.”
Some of the organisations supporting Cosatu include the
Black Sash, the TAC and PASSOP.
Ehrenreich confirmed that union-affiliated teachers
will also strike.
“Kids and students are also welcome to march with. The
matters we’re striking about also impact on the children,” Ehrenreich said.
Economist Mike Schüssler said yesterday he estimates a
massive strike like the currently planned one could cost the economy up to
R8.2bn.
“At present any strike would cost SA economy R8.2bn if everything closed down, as that is the value we add ever yday. As we do not close everything - eg hospitals, petrol and at least some shops will be open - the cost is likely to be a lot less.
"The problem is that the toll fees they are striking against also adds costs. Those costs also increase the cost of doing business and that hurts wealth creation and jobs too. We are in a double whammy.”
