The South African Federation of Trade General-Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says working conditions for the ordinary South Africans have worsened. He was addressing members of trade unions that are affiliated to the labour federation at the Workers’ Day celebrations in Pretoria.
Vavi says this this year the labour federation is calling for unity among workers as they fight against what he terms employers’ oppression.
“We are trying to unite organised workers and we hope really this 2022 will be the last day where workers celebrate it fragmented into different federations, different unions. We are trying to build from below and we are not going to get tired. We will make sure eventually organised workers can unite with the unorganised workers. And that employed workers can be able to unite with workers who have no jobs in particular now that youth unemployment has reached 77%.”
Workers’ Day 2022 | Saftu is commemorating May Day in Bloemfontein:
Workers’ Day | The most urgent task facing the workers today is for them to unite: Nzimande
EFF leader Julius Malema says this May Day should serve as a reminder that the unity of workers is paramount. Malema is addressing supporters at the party’s Workers Day rally at Themba Sinamela Stadium in Middelburg, Mpumalanga.
Malema says devided workers are easily exploited.
“Workers must unite because divided workers are the benefits of the employer. They like it when we are divided. It is actually the employer that divides us. When there is a strong union, an employer sponsors another union to divide the workers because if the workers are divided, the employer will continue to exploit our people.