'There is no messiah to rescue workers' - Unions
Labour unions say they have nothing to celebrate this year as the country commemorates Workers’ Day.
It will be the second time the country observes the public holiday under lockdown, although rallies and political gatherings are permitted this time around.
The day acknowledges worker' rights, as well as the role of trade unions and workers' organisations played in the struggle against apartheid.
But the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) says there have been too few victories this past year.
"The 1st of May is a big day for workers all around the world because workers day itself is an outcome of a struggle that was waged by workers way back when they released their rights were being violated," says Cosatu spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla.
"Normally we would have victories to celebrate but there's very little to celebrate this time around but this is also a moments for us to reflect, to look back on what it is that has gone wrong and how do we recoup and how do we unite to push back on what we consider to be an onslaught on workers."
Pamla adds the Covid-19 pandemic has only added to the pre-existing difficulties faced by workers.
"Workers will be looking at what has happened with regards to the outcomes of the Covid pandemic. We have lost close to 3 million jobs and that is something we need to take a pause and think about. We are also looking at the wages that are being reduced, in some instances frozen," says Pamla.
"The message to workers is that there is no one on the horizon, there is no messiah that is going to come and rescue us as workers. It's up to us to work together, it's up to us to cooperate, it is up to us to forgo some of the sectarian attitudes that have divided us in the past."
South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) deputy general-secretary Anele Kiet agrees.
"Truly speaking, members of Satawu members have nothing to celebrate. We are the most vulnerable union that represents vulnerable workers across all our sectors, therefore we have nothing to celebrate.
Instead of the usual rallies, he says the union will stage demonstrations across the country.
"In Mpumalanga we will be demonstrating, exposing employers who continue to make sure that workers don't live in peace, or don't have proper work environment and they don't earn salaries that can make them to live better and provide for their families."
ALSO READ:
