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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) stands in solidarity with workers who will be participating in a total shut down of the public sector today. More than 800 thousand workers in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSBC) are expected to embark on a strike in their quest to demand a living wage. The national strike is a joint action organised by Cosatu, SAFTU and Fedusa. 

NUMSA supports the National Day of Action which is being called for by these trade union federations and we also support the demands of workers. Workers in the public sector have been denied a meaningful increase for three years. Government refused to implement the last leg of the PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2018 and this has been a trend to date. They have been driving an agenda to attack collective bargaining and attack the rights of workers. They have been imposing an austerity budget on workers and this has made it impossible for workers and their families to survive from month to month. The working class in this country is under siege because of the economic pressures they are facing.

The organs of the state would grind to a halt, were it not for workers in the public sector who keep it running. NUMSA supports the demands of workers who are demanding a 10% increase across the board. They are fed up with being exploited and abused by government the employer. It is outrageous that MP’s and cabinet ministers live a very comfortable lifestyle with generous benefits, and this is funded by the very same workers, whose increases they are refusing to honour! Workers have every right to make demands for an improvement in their benefits and conditions.

Pickets and protests will be taking place at various points around the country and a march has been planned from Burgers park in Tshwane to the offices of the National Treasury today. 

Aluta continua!

The struggle continues!

Issued by NUMSA General Secretary, Irvin Jim