[A-List] The GREAT public sector strike largest in SA history

["Yoshie Furuhashi" <critical.montages@xxxxxxxxx>]

From: Alexander, Peter
Date: Jul 25, 2007 11:00 AM
Subject: [DEBATE] : The GREAT public sector strike largest in SA history
To: "debate: SA discussion list" <debate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

It has been widely reported that the recent public sector strike was
the largest stoppage since 1994, but, actually, in terms of 'days
lost' it was also much the largest in South African history.

In the note below, Guy Slingsby from Nehawu provides a conservative
estimate of 14.4 million days.

In terms of days lost, the largest strike before this was the Great
Miners Strike of 1987. Estaimtes for the size of this dispute ranged
from 240,000 (Chamber of Mines) to 334,000 (symapthetic academics) at
its height, but for much of the time the numbers were quite a bit
smaller. The stoppage lasted 21 days, so, at most, it led to about 7.0
million days lost.

Given that the recent dispute was roughly twice the size of the
previously biggest strike, perhaps we will eventually refer to it as
the Great Public Sector Strike. It certainly deserves far more
critical reflection than it has received hitherto.

Peter A

Guy Slingsby's analysis

It has been reported by Innes that there were 11 million work days
lost. The police, correctional services and many nurses belonging to
Denosa and Hospersa only came out on strike for 1 or 2 days and then
went back to work. However many were angry with their leadership and
in Provinces such as Limpopo and KZN they resigned from their unions
and joined Nehawu in large numbers.

The strike was reported to be supported by between 600 000 and 1
million workers (I am not sure of the accuracy of these figures but I
am accepting them as the lower and upper levels) from the 1st June to
29 June .This includes weekends, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 of June
where there would be reduced staff (total of 8 days), and therefore 29
days - 8 days = 21 days). 21 days X 600 000 = 12 600 000
(approximately 12.5 million)

Then add the staff on strike over the weekends, 8 days X the number of
staff on strike (approximately 200 000 in hospitals, immigration etc.)
= 1 600 000 (1.6 million)

Nehawu (210 000 members) held mass marches countrywide on 25 May to
begin our strike, and therefore 1 X 210 000 = 210 000 (0.2 million)

11 June there were mass marches supported by Cosatu affiliates. Most
of the support came from Samwu on mass (60 000) and some from other
unions (20 000) = 80 000 (0.08 million)

And therefore take 12.5 + 1.6 + 0.2 + 0.08 = 14.38 (million)

So at the lower level of 600 000 workers participating in the strike
we have a figure of 14.4 million strike days lost.

A similar process could be used for the 1 million on strike (higher level)

Innes is a labour analyst for capital so his estimate of 11 million
strike days lost is bound to be a little conservative.

Regards

Guy
--
Yoshie