Thousands of strikers hit streets (S. Africa / Cosatu)

[struggle4progress]

June 27, 2005

By Poloko Tau, Moshoeshoe Monare and Patrick Hlahla

Sixty thousand striking workers were due to converge on the Johannesburg city centre today. If necessary, the Congress of South African Trade Unions will bring the city to a halt for the day. Cosatu's aim is to force government and corporate South Africa to put unemployment, job losses and poverty on the national agenda.

" has a lot of relevance to the Freedom Charter that declared there shall be work and security for all. Eleven years after the democratic breakthrough in 1994, that has become the top priority for our people," said Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

"We are pursuing that demand in the name of the Freedom Charter in honour of those who assembled in Kliptown 50 years ago to demand work and security for all."

Cosatu deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said the issue was not not only job losses but the ease with which corporate South Africa was cutting costs and putting workers on the street to maximise profits, with the government's blessing <snip>

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