* Municipal workers latest to threaten industrial action
* Kumba losing 120,000 tonnes a day of iron ore output
* Xstrata latest platinum firm to suffer wildcat walkout
By Agnieszka Flak and Sherilee Lakmidas
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 8 (Reuters) – South Africa’s local
government workers’ union said on Monday it would launch a
strike over pay in the next few days, the first sign of a wave
of labour unrest in Africa’s biggest economy spreading from the
mines into the public sector.
Since August, close to 100,000 workers, including 75,000 in
the mining sector, have downed tools in often illegal and
violent protests that look likely to hit growth this year and
undermine the government’s efforts to cut its budget deficit.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has promised to reduce the
deficit from the 4.6 percent of GDP forecast for this financial
year. Any public sector wage increase would make that more
difficult.
“The union is mobilising towards a national protest, which
would begin as soon as this week,” South African Municipal
Workers Union (SAMWU) spokesman Tahir Sema said.
A majority of SAMWU’s 190,000 members are expected to join
the strike for “market-related salaries” which may last for one
day or drag on indefinitely, Sema said.
Continued…
