Cosatu plans to hold strikes and pickets across South Africa on Wednesday, October 7th. These events are part of a nationwide protest aimed at drawing attention to job cuts, the rising cost of living, and what the federation calls an infringement on workers' rights.
This nationwide action was scheduled to coincide with World Day for Decent Work, an annual global event dedicated to promoting fair wages, stable employment, and improved working conditions for workers.
Key Actions and Demands
Cosatu is organizing major events in Johannesburg and Tshwane, where a protest will be held against Massmart regarding the dismissal of nearly 600 Makro employees. The federation intends to submit official memorandums to Massmart.
Additionally, Cosatu and its affiliated union SACCAWU will conduct marches in Sandton in the North West province and at the GrandWest casino in Cape Town, protesting Sun International's planned staff reductions.
In the Limpopo province, Cosatu will stage a demonstration during the lunch break at Jumbo Stores in Polokwane. The main themes of this demonstration include the cost of living, electricity prices, adherence to minimum wage, and alleged unfair labor practices.
A provincial demonstration will take place in Bloemfontein in the Free State, where memorandums containing workers' concerns will be delivered to various government departments and companies.
Affiliated unions are also preparing various actions in KwaZulu-Natal, Richards Bay, and Mpumalanga. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will hold a picket at Richards Bay Minerals, where workers will hand over a memorandum listing various production grievances.
A demonstration will be organized by the Doctors' Nurses Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) in Durban, while SACCAWU will hold workplace pickets in several cities in KwaZulu-Natal.
In Mpumalanga, the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) is organizing municipal pickets, focusing on socio-economic and labor issues in local government.
Among its national demands, Cosatu insists on strengthening control over compliance with the National Minimum Wage and appointing 10,000 additional labor inspectors. Furthermore, the federation expresses concern over retrenchments, temporary employment, collective bargaining, social security, and the rising cost of living.
The protected action is scheduled from approximately 9 am to 4:30 pm, and the Wednesday protest is protected under Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act.