BY MARTIN HILL

DURBAN, South Africa - A week-long strike by 80,000 textile workers ended in victory for the union August 5, after employers agreed on a 9 percent wage increase, retroactive to July 1. Before the strike, bosses said they could only pay 7 percent, below the annual rate of inflation of 7.5 percent.

The victory, in the first-ever nationwide strike action called by the South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU), represented an important step in strengthening the union. Some 80 percent of union members voted for strike action in support of a 10 percent wage increase, reduction of the workweek from 42 to 40 hours, and other demands to improve working conditions, maternity leave, and pension rights. The union plans to continue campaigning around the demands not yet won, especially for a shorter work week.

Dolly Mwandla, a shop steward who works as a machinist at B. Jonsson's in Durban, said she took home R260 (US$58) per week. Cleaners, who prepare work for machine operators, get R220. "We need this increase just to stay in the same place," she said. "Food, clothing and transport are all going up. Many women workers are the only breadwinners for a family, but we're treated as cheap labor."

Government figures put inflation at 7.5 percent annually. The purchasing power of wages has been further eroded in recent months by a fall in the value of the South African Rand, pushing up the cost of fuel and other imports.

Mwandla described how the employers tried to divide workers by offering a R10 bonus if they worked normally. "There are 65 of us in our factory," she stated, "but the company owns a bigger factory next door, with over 1,000 workers. I asked the manager, why are you giving us R10 but not the factory next door." Jonsson's also threatened to relocate to Zimbabwe. "They're trying to frighten us," Mwandla said. "But we know they've got big orders, supplying uniforms to banks and hospitals. We see the managers driving around in expensive cars, how can they say they can't afford to pay us?" Workers in both factories joined the strike.

Another important grievance is opportunities for promotion to better paying positions. Many workers are unable to find jobs that match their educational qualifications. But when there are clerical vacancies, shop floor workers are never notified, so Black and Indian workers are still denied access to these jobs. "In the new South Africa everything should be changed," said Mwandla, "but the employers don't want to change."

Monica Ishmael, another shop steward, was involved in campaigning to build support for the strike by picketing large retailers selling the struck firms' products. "When we demonstrated outside their stores, they called the police. Some of the police were aggressive, but we explained we were acting peacefully to let people know of our plight."

On July 29 several thousand SACTWU members attended a strike rally at Curry's Fountain football stadium in Durban, one of the main centers of the clothing industry. A large banner proclaimed "1996 - Year of Action for Improved Conditions." Many workers assembled at their workplaces and marched from there to the stadium, waving banners and sticks. Loud cheers greeted each contingent as it arrived.

SACTWU leader Elias Banda said the strikers had to stay firm. "They have not yet felt your power," he stated. "We must stay united so the employers see we really mean business."

Paulus Ngcobo, regional general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Kwazulu-Natal complained that some government members had criticized recent union actions. "They ask, who is President of this country, Mandela or [COSATU General Secretary Sam] Shilowa? But the President of this country is comrade Nelson Mandela," he said. "The question you need to ask is who puts these people into parliament. In the future you should consider whether such people are qualified to be parliament members, since it seems they are no longer looking at you."

Meanwhile, wage negotiations are in full swing in other industries. Deadlock was reported in the metal and engineering industries. As the textile walkout ended, several thousand fish packers in Western Cape began strike action. Labor actions to defend workers' living standards have alarmed the big-business press. The August 6 Durban Mercury called for "worker education about the dynamics of the market place."  
 
 
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