Ramaphosa to take part in Cosatu’s Workers’ Day celebrations

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to participate in Cosatu’s International Workers’ Day celebrations on Saturday morning.

The virtual event to honour the struggle of workers’ rights in South Africa comes amid a deadlock between the government and unions in the public sector over wage negotiations.

Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the ANC’s message of support to workers while Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi will give the main address at Cosatu House in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

SACP general-secretary Blade Nzimande will also take part in the May Day event.

The event is scheduled to begin at 10am.

#COSATUMayDay Programme-2021 tomorrow at #Cosatu House, Braamfontein is as follows; 10:00am : Guest introduction by #COSATU First Deputy President Michael Shingange @Newzroom405 @MorningLiveSABC @405Mornings @SAfmnews @SAfmRadio @Powerfm987 @City_Press @TheCitizen_News @eNCA pic.twitter.com/XGLLSNj1ea

— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) April 30, 2021

Unions in the public service are threatening to embark on mass industrial action over workers’ demand for a 7.1% wage increase.

This after the government stuck to its 0% wage hike and presented a revised offer that included a review of allowances and leave for public servants at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) last month.

ALSO READ: Mchunu calls for proposals to end wage talks deadlock

Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu has described the wage talks as the most difficult in years due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the state’s coffers and the need for urgent reforms in the public service.

The minister has called on citizens to come forward with proposals to resolve the deadlock between government and unions.

Cosatu and its affiliate, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), have already backed calls for Mchunu to be removed from office over the impasse.

Public sector unions have also filed papers in the Constitutional Court to appeal the Labour Appeal Court’s ruling from December 2020, which sided with government over its reasons not to implement the final leg of the 2018 wage agreement with unions.

The case is expected to be heard later this year in August.

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