The Communist Party and Congress of Trade Unions are teaming up in South Africa to address the impact of economic conditions on the poor, and lobby the African National Congress to increase government spending. Advocates claim the poor benefited least from a previous period of economic growth, and are likely to fare the worst now that the economy is headed in the other direction. Unions are asking the government to focus less on controlling inflation and to take steps to aid the poor. Proposals include paying income grants and re-nationalizing formerly state-owned companies.
See "South Africa's Ruling Party, Unions to Debate Economic Policy", Mike Cohen, Bloomberg News, October 16, 2008