Numsa has had some success in improving our members' wages and working conditions. With bargaining in the motor, engineering and energy sectors due to start from April this year, just how does the socio-economic situation look.
What Cosatu says:
… liberation brought huge improvements For most South Africans, liberation brought huge political and social improvements. Democracy in itself empowers our people and gives a wide array of opportunities and rights, including in the workplace. Moreover, the government has improved basic infrastructure and social services in black communities, which were long denied under apartheid.
..but growing inequalities between 1995 and 2000 But a recent government report by Statistics SA on incomes and expenditure – points to the following inequalities between 1995 – 2000.
The share of the poorest 60% of households in the national income fell from 17% to 15% with the biggest decline amongst the poorest households. The average African household income fell by 19%, to R26 000 a year. Average white household incomes rose by 16%, to R158000 a year. joblessness rose from 16% of the labour force in 1995 to almost 30% today. During this period, the number of unemployed has risen from around 2 million to over 4 million. Every South African household now has some unemployed members. the gap between directors has been growing wider every year. Between 1997 and 2000, workers' real wage increase was 0.008% while directors' was 85%.
…more heavy blows last year And over the last year, workers took more heavy blows:
food prices soared. The maize price doubled and food prices overall rose over 20%. In contrast, the prices of other goods and services only increased by 10%. Because the poor spend more of their income on food than others, they faced a more rapid increase in the cost of living – 14% in the year to September 2002. This increase far outstripped most wage agreements in 2001/2. Even before the food prices hike, over 20% of South African households went hungry and 23% of children under seven years showed signs of stunting due to malnutrition.
Source
Numsa News