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The Sanctions Against Israel Coalition hereby pledges our unconditional support for the national strikes in the cleaning sector and at Shoprite. The rampant super-exploitation in these sectors reflect the crisis of capitalism and its inability to meet the basic needs of the majority. The massive income gap at Shoprite is one of the contributors to making South Africa the exploitation capital of the world [the Gini co-efficient is of the highest].

The Sanctions Against Israel Coalition hereby pledges our unconditional support for the national strikes in the cleaning sector and at Shoprite. The rampant super-exploitation in these sectors reflect the crisis of capitalism and its inability to meet the basic needs of the majority. The massive income gap at Shoprite is one of the contributors to making South Africa the exploitation capital of the world [the Gini co-efficient is of the highest]. It is on the backs of the sweat of the workers at Shoprite that the compant has grown to set up shop for exploitation of workers in 17 countries.

The cleaning sector reflects the drive of the capitalists for outsourcing and dividing workers to enable higher profits on the back of greater exploitation of workers. In all cases where workers have been outsourced, working conditions have deteriorated; workers have been largely stripped of pension and other benefits won through long years of struggle. On the other side of the same coin, Shoprite builds their empire on the back of casual labour. These are the concrete, violent , yet unreported, conditions that workers endure in South Africa. The increase offered by the cleaning companies amount to $0.03 per hour while the CEO of Shoprite earns $8.4 million per annum.

The SA government long ago promised an investigation into the effects of outsourcing. The workers are waiting while top ANC members open up contract companies that ride the outsourcing bandwagon. The demands of the working class are put on hold while the ruling party tops enjoy conspicuous consumption. We call on Cosatu to action its slogan "AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL"; we call on Nactu and independent unions to also embark on solidarity actions. We call for the setting up of strike support committees across the country to strengthen the strikes for the workers legitimate demands, on wages and conditions of employment.

for further comment Shaheed Mahomed Co-ordinator SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL COALITION
PH 021 4476777