ANC WELCOMES END OF JOHANNESBURG MUNICIPAL STRIKE

The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes today's (Thursday, 21 April 2011) signing of the agreement by the City of Johannesburg and the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU), suspending the two-week long strike that has adversely affected Johannesburg.

The suspension of the strike also means an end to the unhealthy state of our streets with piles of rubbish and unbearable stench having engulfed most of Johannesburg, something that has affected residents and business.

While we welcome the end of the municipal strike, we call on the SAMWU leadership to review its position of launching a national municipal strike by using existing channels, which include the bargaining council to resolve labour issues. We believe that political issues earlier raised by the SAMWU leadership should be referred to the Alliance Secretariat and not form part of labour disputes.

We therefore, appeal to the SAMWU leadership to reconsider plans for a rolling mass action in May, which will have negative effects on the forthcoming local government elections. We know that SAMWU - as a progressive trade union - which is part of the progressive Alliance, would not like to be seen to be sabotaging the forthcoming local government elections and the entrenchment of democracy in South Africa. We also know that SAMWU - as part of the revolutionary forces - would not like to be seen to be acting in a manner that is counter-revolutionary.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, April 21 2011

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