Johannsburg - Preparations for the banking industry’s national shutdown against retrenchments and the economic crisis are continuing despite the Labour Court’s pending judgment on the bid to stop the protests.
Cosatu deputy general secretary Solly Phetoe on Wednesday insisted that preparations for the rolling mass action against contemplated and current job losses in the financial sector were going ahead. The federation and its 73000-member strong affiliate, the South African Society of Bank Officials , are unhappy with retrenchments, rising unemployment, poverty, and the fact that a quarter of the country’s population are on government social grants, among other issues.
Phetoe said it was good that business also accepted that there was an economic crisis in the country. “We’re positive the interdict will be in our favour but we also want to say we’re not going to stop mobilising our members in relation to the shutdown on September 27 [tomorrow], but also October 7, in relation to the economic crisis that is facing us here,” Phetoe said.