Cosatu vows to fight 'neo-liberal offensive' and retrenchments

In response to what it called a "neo-liberal offensive" targeting workers, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) will march on the KwaZulu-Natal premier's office in the provincial capital on Thursday.

Cosatu's Edwin Mkhize said retrenchments in the public sector, most notably at the SABC, had prompted their call to action.

"This is the beginning of our response as Cosatu to this renewed attack against the workers and the poor. Jobs are being shed, adding to growing of unemployment," he said.

The move toward industrial mass action was announced at a media briefing in Durban on Tuesday.  

Mkhize said that they took issue with looming retrenchments at the public broadcaster and the Langalibalele municipality in central KZN, as well as calls for the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, and the public service wage bill being cut.  

“We are committed to defend all workers in different sectors from this revived offensive by neo-liberalism. This is a clear indication that capitalists and our government officials continue to use workers as scapegoats," Mkhize added.

The march is expected to move from the Alexandra Pool park to the premier’s office in central Pietermaritzburg.