POLITICS

COSATU STRIKE: Affecting everyone , whether a member or not

On Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Johannesburg streets



COSATU protests looking like sea red

 

Considering the nature of the protest march one always expect some angry faces and disobedient behaviour, but the crowd was well behaved.   Since there were marshals, they divided themselves into smaller groups to control the march and things become very easy without incidents. Even though the crowd well-behaved, but  the COSATU strike still affects every body, whether you are a member or not.

 Many businesses were forced to close their doors before the protesters arrived. It was also reported that four Shoprite super markets where forced by police to close down. “The stores were closed to ensure customer safety because they were in the vicinity of marches and demonstrations” said Shoprite holdings ltd. Accessed from: Moneyweb daily news   by Mike Cohen

The pace was kept intentionally slow, and disrupted the traffic. These means that people who are going to work, schools, interviews, or  having appointments and any other important place, will be late or might even not arrive to that place.“ In the University of Johannesburg, Public Relations students together with their lecture Ms Vanwyk, had to postpone the test that they were supposed to write on the day of the COSATU strike due to some students who may not be able to come and write because of the traffic” said Magagula pebetse, Public Relations student .Although one may ask that why setting an important interview or appointment on the day of strike, this means these people are ignorant to news, but the other one may argue and ask why are pausing our future, our businesses, our time when some organisations are striking but the point is strikes affects everyone

Metrobus in Johannesburg asked that commuters make alternative transport arrangements on Wednesday because it seemed some drivers had joined the strike. “ Fezile Dabi district, with towns like Parys, Sasolburg and Kroonstad experienced major disruptions in schools with more than 90 % of schools shutting down”, said Ndaba.  Johannesburg - The Airports Company of SA (Acsa) asked travellers to arrive early for their flights on Wednesday as the effect of COSATU's nationwide anti-toll and labour broking protests took hold with flight delays in Durban.

Now the question is why do we have to strike when we want or need an increase in salaries, why striking when we don’t like or want something in the parliament? Why don’t we sit down with whoever in charge of our issues and negotiate the problems? This shows us that we do not have good communication skills.