Soweto municipal council workers have been on strike for four months. The strike started when the Soweto municipal council told the council workers that they would only get the wage increase owing to them if they convinced the community to end the rent boycott. That was in June. This ultimatum directly linked the workers’ struggle for higher wages with the community struggle against illegimimate local authorities. Some 4, 000 workers went out to strike, demanding their wage increase and recognition of their union, the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU).
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