Multiple S.Africa strikes fan fears of new violence

Tens of thousands of builders halted work and aircraft technicians disrupted air traffic Monday in the latest strikes to hit South Africa, fanning fears of new violence.

Around 90,000 construction workers embarked on an indefinite strike demanding a 13 percent pay increase, against employers’ offer of six percent.

Two people were reportedly stabbed during a workers’ protest in Johannesburg’s plush suburb of Sandton, police said.

The South African government warned the strikers to stay “within the ambit of the law”, threatening to act against “those that contravene the country’s laws.”

“It is unacceptable when people’s rights are violated by perpetrators of violent actions,” authorities said in a statement, urging employers and workers to “engage in meaningful dialogue and to speedily reach an agreement.”

Violent labour disputes last year claimed over 50 lives at South Africa’s platinum mines, including 34 miners shot dead by police in one day at Lonmin’s Marikana mine.

Now as construction workers down tools, union federation Cosatu said employers could well afford generous pay increases.

“They cannot … plead poverty, and must share their super-profits with workers who risk life and limb every day in one of the most dangerous working environments,” Cosatu said in a statement.

Some of those on strike are employed by giants such as Murray & Roberts and Grinaker LTA.

Earlier in the day 1,300 aircraft maintenance technicians launched a stayaway at the country’s airports.

They demand a 12 percent pay rise, according to South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union spokesman Vincent Masoga.

Their employer, South African Airways, which unions accuse of “arrogant tactics”, has offered an increase of just 6.5 percent.

The technicians repair and service aircraft for state-owned SAA and other domestic and international carriers, including British Airways and Qantas.

The strikers claim their action has so far caused some disruption, including a delay in the arrival of national rugby team the Springboks returning from a weekend game against Argentina.

But the Airports Company of South Africa denied that delays at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport were related to the strike.

Meanwhile, as many as 30,000 automobile workers have been on strike for a week.

They will decide on Wednesday whether to call off the strike following a revised offer from some of the world’s leading car makers that have plants in South Africa.

But more strikes are on the cards — in the mining, textile and other sectors — in the nation’s mid-winter wage-negotiation months that have become known as “strike season”.

Around 120,000 gold mine workers on Saturday gave notice that they would down tools over salaries if no wage deal is reached this week.

The main gold workers’ organisation, the National Union for Mineworkers (NUM), is demanding 60 percent wage hikes and has rejected an offer of a six percent rise as a “joke”.

“The arrogance of…the mining and construction companies has pushed us too far,” said NUM secretary general Frans Baleni. “The gloves are officially off, the battle lines are drawn.”

The radical Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has rivalled NUM’s suggestion with its demand of a 150 percent increase.

Cosatu meanwhile has accused mining firms of “blackmail” and “bullying” tactics by using layoff plans to scare workers into accepting lower pay hikes.

Workers at the world’s top platinum producer Anglo American Platinum are mulling action over plans to cut 6,900 jobs.

The mounting labour disputes come as Cosatu, the country’s largest workers’ federation, is dogged by divisions that threaten to crumble the 37-year-old organisation.