Cosatu to march against job losses
A MARCH against job losses and mass retrenchments will take place on Wednesday February 13, where Cosatu and its alliance partners expect up to 2 000 people in the city to participate.
Cosatu provincial secretary Orapeleng Moraladi said yesterday that the federation’s concerns include rising unemployment in the mining, public and private sector and retrenchments at the SABC.
“We will meet at the Kemo Motel at 9am and march to the Department of Labour, Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, the Premier’s Office, all government departments, Eskom, Kimberley Ekapa Mining Joint Venture and the SABC,” said Moraladi.
He added that there would be no schooling on the day of the march, as members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union would also be participating.
“There will be a complete shutdown. We are aware that by-elections will be taking place in the Sol Plaatje municipal district on the same day. We therefore encourage everyone to join the march and thereafter visit the voting stations to cast their votes.
“Everyone is welcome to join in, we would like the youth and civil society to take part. We are also calling for socio-economic growth and an end to corruption – we do not wish to repeat the mistakes of the past.”
Moraladi stated that more labour inspectors should be employed to ensure that all employers complied with health and safety regulations as well as the national minimum wage that should have been implemented as from January 1.
“We will highlight the concerns of all our members employed in state institutions as well as the need to fill vacant posts in government.”
Members of Cosatu and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) staged a picket outside the SAPS provincial offices in George Street yesterday in support of Popcru provincial secretary Boitumelo Pheleo, who was allegedly assaulted by a senior SAPS member during a meeting that took place on February 1.