To mark the International Day for Decent Work, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) organized a National Day of Action, a crucial event that advocates for social and economic justice and highlights the ongoing struggles of workers globally. The event, held annually, emphasizes the importance of decent work and economic reforms while amplifying the voices of the working class.
In Cape Town, a march to the Western Cape Provincial Legislature was organised, during which COSATU expressed dissatisfaction with the Provincial Government and employers for prioritising the interests of the rich over the well-being and protection of workers. The pending retrenchment of 2,407 teaching positions in the province by the DA-led administration was strongly opposed by COSATU, calling it an onslaught on working-class schools and the downgrading of educational outcomes.
The federation highlighted the mismatch between the increasing number of learners in the province, attributed to migration from rural areas to economic centres, and the inadequate provision of educators and school infrastructure. Their demands included suspending the decision to dismiss teachers and engaging COSATU, unions, civil society, and other stakeholders by the Western Cape Government to address the issue.
The demonstration at the National Parliament was a significant part of the protest, where the leaders emphasised that the marches and protests today express workers’ collective frustration and anger and highlight workers’ demands to the Government of National Unity and employers. Specific calls were made by leaders such as Bonita Loubser, Sactwu general secretary, for the engagement of workers across federations and by Ashley Benjamin, FEDUSA Deputy General Secretary, to halt the privatisation of state-owned entities.
COSATU emphasised the failure of the government and businesses to create sufficient jobs to address the country’s unemployment crisis and demanded urgent solutions to the cost-of-living crisis, an increase in social support for the poor and vulnerable sectors, the introduction of a Basic Income Grant, and a more focused implementation and resourcing of the National GBV Plan.
The Provincial and National Governments have been given a 14-day to respond to the workers’ demands.
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