Edrick de Klerk and In a recent series of strikes for a decent living wage, the South African labour movement came up against stiff resistance by the employers. Though the agreements
fell short of their WOll demands, the learned important lessons.
Workers kept divided under apartheid, and
from different colling labour traditions, are beginning to join forces. And the issue of strike funds is being addressed.
South Africa experienced a wave of strikes in the middle of this year after wage negotiations between the trade and employers foundered.
Important strikes erupted in the mining, aviation, retail and local government sectors against the background of companies making soaring profits on the back of the unionised and non-unionised workers.
The employers affected by the strikes - South African Airways, South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Chamber of Mines and the retailer Pick 'n Pay adopted a common stance towards the demands.
They steadfastly refused to consider any increases above the 4 - 7% range. The initial demands of the unions ranged between 6 and 15% - aimed at generally improving on traditionally low wage levels and keeping pace with soaring living costs.
Companies have also been pushing for long-term pay agreements of up to three years - a trend that is rapidly becoming the norm in many industries.
Where they have been introduced these ments have tied unions to preset pay deals that have then proved inadequate to cover the cost of living increases for the ensuing periods.
Employers such SALGA have been accused by union leaders of undermining the collective bargaining and of rolling back workers' pension and medical retirement benefits. Let down
The workers find themselves badly let down on the local services front too as municipalities have been paying millions to consultants who fail to deliver.
When companies cannot placate unions and workers they fall back on threats of closure of their companies and retrenchment of staff.
The company CheckersShoprite, for example, has been raking in mega-profits from its South African and African operations.
Yet it has tried to convince its staff that 'excessive' wage demands will lead to an increase in food prices or closure of marginal stores.
Fortunately workers rejected the bosses' posturing and rightfully used the vast wage gaps that exist in South Africa as a basis for demanding wage increases in line with the cost of living.
For instance, the average pay for gold mine workers is R 2354 (£210) a month while their companies' the chief executives earn 242 times this amount. Municipal managers are paid salaries ranging from one half to one million rand a month. Municipal workers are denied minimum salary of R 3000 (£268).
The pay demands of the unions assume still greater importance taking into account the need for a "social wage.
This wage makes provision for the added expenditure that employed workers are forced to make IOI family and relatives who have been laid off or who are dependent Ol une wage earner/s in the tamily.
The poverty indicators in South testify masses of people being thrown into poverty - more than 50% of the population according to figures released earlier this year by the department of local and provincial government.
Big business, sensing the falling membership of some union federations as a result of retrenchments, felt
CONfident enough to take a hard line towards workers' demands for living wages.
But significantly, in their confrontations with the employers, traditional white Workers divided under apartheid are beginning to join forces. unions in the mining sector like Solidarity made common cause with the National Union of Mineworkers.
In the municipal strike a similar situation obtained, with unity in action being the key rallying call.
There are now moves afoot for the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) and the National Council of Trades Unions (Nactu) to explore possible merger.
The Council of South African Workers (Cosawu) is also reported to be part of these unity initiatives.
Talks between the Confederation of South
Trade (Cosatu) Nactu and Fedusa regarding future amalgamation are under way as well.
Though lack of strike funds and une resulting hardship of members finally forced the unions to terminate strike action and they did not win the levels of pay they wanted workers showed a strong resolve to fight for rightful wage Ceases.
As well as amalgamation talks, as part of preparations
engage employers in future, some unions have put he question of strike funds on the agenda.
Certainly future battles will require closer union collaboration as well as a broadening and heightening of support from progresSIVO and political organisations.