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Massive Govt Strike Looms
| News by Staff ReporterBut talks continue between Government and the Unions
Media reports suggest massive strike action by trade union federation Cosatu, and its affiliated unions, if government doesn't improve their current wage offer of 6,5 percent this week.Cosatu said if the government does not meet their demands of an 8,6 percent wage increase and R1,000 housing subsidy backdated to July 1, the country's teachers, police, doctors and nurses would abandon their posts and commence striking.
The South African government, however, is unwilling to participate in negotiations and has not budged from its offer of a 6,5 percent wage increase and R620 housing subsidy, even after the unions revised their initial demand of an 11 percent wage increase and R1,650 housing subsidy backdated to April 1.
The unions threatening strike represent more than half of the 1,3 million employees in the South African public sector, and have predicted this strike to be worse than month-long strike in 2007.
The unions have planned demonstrations as a prelude to the strike, the first of which will occur in Cape Town and Pretoria on August 10, and then a date for the mass protest will be set.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup remains a thorn in the side of the South African government, who after spending millions of rands on World Cup tickets, parties, advertising and hotel rooms, are left to further justify their claims of having no money available to increase wages.
A strike of this magnitude would affect every government department, and in turn, every South African, especially the various communities that depend on government services for their basic survival.
Public Servant and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi will meet with the unions today, at his request.
Source: www.bizpremises.co.za
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