'We will embark a full blown strike'

COSATU secretary in KwaZulu-Natal Edwin Mkhize says should government fail to respond to the memorandum of their grievances within seven days, they will embark a full blown strike.

Hundreds of workers affiliated to COSATU took part in the Durban leg of the public servants march. They are demanding a 10% increase, but government is offering just 3%.

Mkhize is appealing to government to respect the workers.

Mkhize says, ”We are very clear on the memorandum . We are giving government 7 days to respond to the concerns of the workers. We are saying that if the government does not say what they will do with our demands come the 2nd of December, we will go on a full blown strike for these demands we are putting on the table.”

Meanwhile, the Public Servants Association’s Mlungisi Ndlovu is appealing to other unions and workers to similarly reject government’s proposed 3% wage increase.

Mlungisi Ndlovu says, ”Government refused to negotiate with our chief negotiators . That is the back bone of labour peace in this country . Government to pay workers in terms of the collective agreement of 2018 . Now they are imposing 3% , they saying they are doing a favour for workers. We are saying workers must be united. To unions who are not part of this march, we are saying stop misleading the workers.”