Municipal workers continue to strike for a third day

Описание: (29 Jul 2009)
1. Top shot of strikers singing and marching
2. Various of strikers singing and marching, sign reading: "To Hell with 13%, It's 4 Baboons"
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ivy Nduma, Striker:
"At the end of the day we are working very hard and the managers and the directors, they are the ones that are benefiting, so that is why we're saying the least they can give us 15 percent."
4. Various of protesters singing and dancing, some holding signs
5. Wide of protesters dancing
6. Mid of protester, sign reading "Ensuring Local Government Bias Towards the Working Class"
STORYLINE:
City workers demanding better pay continued to strike across South Africa on Wednesday, with thousands flooding the streets of Johannesburg after employers failed to meet their demands.
The 150,000-member South African Municipal Workers Union began an indefinite strike on Monday, accompanied by demonstrations in major cities.
Union members collect rubbish, drive buses and provide other services nationwide.
Employers increased their offer to 13 percent raises Monday. Workers want 15 percent.
Strikers on Wednesday carried signs reading "To Hell with 13%, It's 4 Baboons".
"At the end of the day we are working very hard and the managers and the directors they are the ones that are benefiting, so that is why we are saying at least they can give us 15 percent," argued Ivy Nduma, a City Council librarian who joined protesters in downtown Johannesburg.
Strikes and protests - some violent - are common in South Africa this time of year when contracts are expiring.
This year's labour unrest has been accompanied by protests by poor people angry at the slow delivery of jobs, houses, electricity and water services promised by the government.
Union leaders had urged calm after some striking city workers littered streets, looted shops or threatened non-strikers on Monday.
South African President Jacob Zuma has called for patience, citing the global economic crisis as a contributory factor.
Zuma, who took office in May, promised to fight poverty and improve the delivery of services when he was elected.

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