The Citizen writes that later this month President Cyril Ramaphosa is to face his first Cosatu-led national strike since he came to power. This will likely prove to be a litmus test of the improved political relationship between the labour federation and the ANC government.
The strike will also come at a time when the components of the Tripartite Alliance – the ANC, Cosatu and the SA Communist Party – have been trying to revive their relationship after years of tension under former president Jacob Zuma. Cosatu was due on Monday to finalise preparations for the national strike on 13 February. In the past such strikes have always been characterised by work stay-aways and street marches nationwide. “The strike will be about fighting the ongoing job losses across all the sectors of the economy. The job summit last year failed to put a moratorium on retrenchments and the federation, ultimately, resolved to go on a national strike on February 13,” said Sizwe Pamla, Cosatu spokesperson. Since he assumed power in February last year, Ramaphosa had been working hard to lure investors, but economists have identified regular workers’ strikes as one of the factors likely to impede investment.
- Read Eric Naki’s report in the above regard in full at The Citizen
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page