Execs earn 1,728 times more than workers
Cosatu's Zwelinzima Vavi writes about "The working poor vs state moguls"
Four years ago, the lowest-paid worker in the public sector earned R35,000 a year, while a director general took home in excess of R800,000 a year.
This reality is worsening as wealth becomes concentrated in the hands of a few
Here are his words...
THE public service strike has been hotly debated and unfairly reported on in the media.
From opinion pieces to current affairs shows, the dominant view has been that unions in South Africa are too powerful and are holding the country's "progress" at ransom.
Suggestions have been made that South Africa needs a Thatcherite leadership that adheres to a neo-liberal ideology and musters enough clout to crack the whip on the backs of the trade unionmovement.
Some critics have argued that unions are protecting a "labour aristocracy", that is those that are fortunate enough to have a job and to belong to a union.
The government did not waste time joining the tune, arguing that acceding to workers' demands would require the state to compromise the service delivery needs of poor communities.
Almost every news segment runs stories of how those in need of medical attention are turned away, how pupils are left in limbo on the eve of the matric exams and how bodies have been piling up in state mortuaries, causing unnecessary pain and suffering to the bereaved.
These attacks are waged in a manner that creates the impression that public servants exist in a socialvacuum.
The reality that many workers (due to the failure of the state to drive a sound job creation strategy and implement a comprehensive social security programme) have to care for extended families, is seldom mentioned by the media and government.
Cosatu has indicated at every opportunity that the consequences of the strike are regrettable and urged government to meet the workers' demands and thus contribute to the speedy resolution of the dispute.
With all the attempts to trivialise workers' demands for an 8,6percent wage increase and R1000 housing allowance, important questions have been left unattended.
Very few entertained the reasons behind government's 16-year reluctance to sign a minimum service level agreement so as to allow workers falling outside the scope of essential services to embark on strike action.
The government has been absolved of the blame for failing the poor and opportunistically using essential services as an instrument to suppress workers' rights.
There are many untold stories of the difficulties faced by public servants at the hands of a system governed by profit.
The public should be made aware that the conditions of work for many public servants are intertwined with the wellbeing of the people they serve.
The conditions under which education takes place in many townships and rural schools, replicates as a working environment for many teachers.
Similarly, the dream of providing quality healthcare for all will never be realised as long as nurses have to undertake their tasks within the context of staff shortages, lack of medicines and infrastructure in many of our public hospitals.
In all honesty, many public servants are reeling under the pressures of capitalism. A teacher who earns about R9,000 a month simply cannot afford a decent house. We should not be surprised when many public servants drown in debt and struggle to keep their families afloat. This is a gross crime committed by the government against public servants and society at large.
With the increasing cost of living and the lack of cushioning mechanisms such as state-subsidised housing for public servants, we can safely say that many of our teachers and nurses today constitute what has been called the working poor.
The public sector strike has clearly unmasked the real and ugly face of income inequalities and poverty in South Africa.
The fact that a top chief executive earns 1,728 times more than an average worker is proof of these gross inequalities.
Four years ago, the lowest-paid worker in the public sector earned R35,000 a year, while a director general took home in excess of R800,000 a year.
This reality is worsening as wealth becomes concentrated in the hands of a few, who have tasted the real fruits of democracy. These facts ought to be remembered by those who comfortably launch scathing attacks on working class struggles from their library armchairs.
Hopefully the resilience and overall discipline that has been demonstrated by the majority of the workers during the strike will be re-channelled towards mass campaigns in the National Health Insurance and a new, job-creating and equitable growth path.
The writer is Cosatu general secretary
Mantombi
Molweni bahlali! Vavi has said it all. Public servants are angry because the ones that are signing memo's are getting fat cheques and car allowances DG'S and DIRECTORS, CEO'S. In this government the poor will stay poor. Baloyi's up there are very greedy they wanna fill up their pockets. Poor public servants can't even buy themselves houses. Really now something must be doneReport Abuse
Msola
looks like you don't include yourself on the people earning a lot Mr Vavi. you also benefit if the strike is not resolved. dont act as if you want the strike to end. you one of them.Report Abuse
ZEM
Noneed to say more, Vavi said it all. I am glad he refused when the Zuma administration tried to silence him with a post as an MP. Top management cannot care for us since they don't know our struggles, they have fully subsidised houses, cars, groceries, medical aid's and so forth. their monthly R150 000 salaries are for them to save and invest in businesses.Report Abuse
TheVoice
None of this comes as a surprise, the ANC govt has been splurging for years!! If we add up just the amount of govt funds STOLEN by ANC cadres through corruption and ill-awarded govt tenders, this alone would more than cover what the public workers are demanding. In the same breath, i cannot feel sympathy for the strikers as 90% of these ppl will yet again vote for an ANC govt that clearly cannot deliver and doesn't care. How many promises must be broken? how many scandals of corruption must be brought to light (none if the very same ANC has its way with its proposed media clamp-down). Last month alone, scores of OUR black babies died unnecessary deaths in state hospitals yet still you will vote these ppl into power, THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT YOU VOTED IN TO POWER!! This is the reality of your choice. WAKE UP PPL, the ANC really doesn't care.Report Abuse
Billionaire
Money will never be enough, phela this is stealing n day light robbery. We are just spectators, watching people becoming Billionaires. Juju n Zuma's son will be on Forbes rich list soonest.Report Abuse
Bigbrother
Vavi said it all...I don,t believe this stupid excuse from the ANC goverment that there is no money for the people whereas they are using so much money for the hotels & flights every year.....If their kids were attending the local schools, I think the teacgers will be earning a lot better by now......Report Abuse
TheVoice
At the same time, lets be honest. These public workers don't deserve the increase they are demanding. When was the last time you visited a state institution? (matric pass rates have been on the decline, yet teachers strike, hospitals are death home for the poor, yet nurses strike, our streets are filthy, I can go on and on) While all of us commenting from our desks at work have increases linked to our performance in the private sector, we should be striking, considering how well our companies performed, yet on average, the private sector received increases below inflation.Report Abuse