South African municipal workers win living wage battle
By Gery Armsby
Striking municipal workers in South Africa reached an
important wage agreement with the South African Local
Government Association (SALGA) on July 19, ending a three-week
nationwide strike.
The agreement signaled a victory for workers who were
struggling against a bitter and obstinate management to raise
the minimum salary for municipal workers from the present $190
per month to $220.
To end the strike--which hindered many crucial services
throughout the country, affecting millions--the South African
Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) made concessions, which it had
prepared its members for if the course of the strike required
them. Yet overall the standing agreement represents a step
forward for all workers in the service sector and all of South
Africa's lowest paid.
SAMWU wrested from management a minimum wage increase to
$210 and wage increases for other workers of 8 to 9 percent.
The union had demanded an across-the-board 10-percent increase.
Among the other gains for the workers will be a built-in
inflationary increase of one percent for 2003 and 2004 and 1.5
percent for 2005.
"Just last week SALGA was refusing to talk to us," said
SAMWU negotiator Dale Forbes. "By Monday they forgot their
stance as the continued pressure of our members began to take
its toll.
"Not only did they come to the bargaining table but they
were also prepared to consider SAMWU's demands for a minimum
wage and for a higher increase for lower-paid workers.
Previously these demands were rejected out of hand.
"In the agreement SAMWU has secured our key demands of a
minimum wage and a higher percentage increase for lower-paid
workers. This continues our campaign to reduce the unacceptable
wage gap between the highest and the lowest paid worker,"
Forbes said.
The victory was not easy. Picket lines and rallies in
several cities and towns were met with repression. One picketer
was killed and another seriously wounded by police gunfire July
15. Police in another city opened fire with rubber bullets
against picketers who were holding a street demonstration. And
hundreds were arrested during the strike, including the
chairperson of a SAMWU local and other strike leaders.
Yet the support of the majority of people from the
communities, even those most affected by service interruptions,
seemed to be with the workers. Added to that was an incredible
outpouring of working-class solidarity from many unions and
labor federations in South Africa. Together, the 100,000
striking municipal workers and their millions of allies could
not be held back.
Workers returned to work July 22 as SAMWU continued
additional negotiations concerning broadening economic
inequities between municipal managers and workers.
Reprinted from the Aug. 1, 2002, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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