LISTEN: Saftu calls on rival unions, political parties to join Clover strike
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) says it has written letters to various labour unions, including rival federation Cosatu, to join the strike at Clover.
Clover workers have been on strike for nearly nine weeks. They are unhappy over planned retrenchments and pay cuts, which they blame on Clover’s merger with MilkCo. .
SAFTU general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says the restructuring will result in the closure of several factories, retrenchment of workers and wage cuts of 20%.
“The closure of factories is not only leading to loss of jobs at Clover alone, but is also destroying jobs along the supply chain, as well as destroying the economies of the small towns in which the factories are to be closed.
“The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s preliminary investigation that looked at the effects of the jobs are already being destroyed downstream of the supply chain. That is, in the logistics.”
Vavi has called on trade unions and political parties to unite on this issue.
“The battle against the system must begin now, and it is a capitalist system that we are battling against here. If we do not defeat this system it is going to devour all of us as the working class. That is why we are making an appeal once more to Cosatu, not just Saccawu, wake up and smell the coffee comrades.
“We are making the same appeal to Fedusa and Natu, your flags, your logos are not going to be enough to defend your jobs now, you need unity. We are making a similar call to every political party, first, those political parties that regard themselves as left-wing, socialist orientated. If you don’t help us win the battle now there is no reason why you exist as socialist parties in South Africa or liberation movements.
The federation is also set to hold a national day of action on 25 January.
Listen to Zwelinzima Vavi below:
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