South African public sector workers engaged in a one day general strike on August 10, 2010. The workers are demanding a 8 percent wage hike and housing allowances.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Aug 11 2010 11:38
Unions representing more than one million civil servants and the government plan wage talks on Thursday, hours before a union deadline to reach a deal that would avert a prolonged strike.
"We are optimistic that the government will come back to us with a significant offer. Our members want to avoid protracted strike action," Sizwe Pamla, a spokesperson for the National Education, Health And Allied Workers' Union, said on Wednesday. The group is a part of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
Cosatu unions and other civil service labour groups staged a one-day strike on Tuesday, seeking an 8,6% pay rise, twice the current rate of inflation, and a R1 000 monthly housing allowance.
They threatened a prolonged strike they said would bring the government to a halt unless a deal is reached by Thursday.
The action increased pressure on President Jacob Zuma's government to prevent a repeat of a massive public-sector strike three years ago that dented the economy and support for his predecessor, analysts said.
The government has offered 7% and R630 for housing, but analysts believe it is likely to raise its offer rather than risk a strike just before a policy-setting meeting next month of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Analysts expect the ANC, which has a longstanding alliance with organised labour, to give in to the unions' demands. Such a deal would make it hard to bring the budget deficit down from 6,7% of gross domestic product without spending cutbacks elsewhere.
Separately, South African auto workers seeking pay increases of more than triple the inflation rate went on an indefinite strike on Wednesday, hitting production. -- Reuters
Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-08-11-govt-unions-head-back-to-negotiating-table
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
21:11 Mecca time, 18:11 GMT
S African workers strike over wages
Unions representing 1.3 million government workers backed the strike
More than a million government workers have staged a crippling one-day strike in South Africa, bringing public service to a virtual standstill in parts of the country.
Thousands of civil servants marched through Pretoria and Cape Town on Tuesday as part of a "total shut-down of the public service" aimed at increasing pressure on the government of Jacob Zuma, the South African president, over better salaries.
The strike was also aimed at prompting the government to reach a deal by a Thursday deadline set by the unions.
Zwelinzima Vavi, general secretary of Cosatu, the largest umbrella labour organisation in the country said "we are asking for 8.6 per cent only".
"We are asking for a mere 1000 rands for a housing allowance only. This is peanuts, comrades," Vavi told workers in Cape Town.
"We have spoken to them for the past seven months, they are not listening, they are not listening. Today, this is not a strike, we are only firing the first warning shot."
Pay raise dispute
Unions are calling for an 8.6 per cent pay hike, twice the current rate of inflation, and a 1,000 rand ($138) monthly housing allowance.
The South African government is offering a seven per cent pay hike and 630 rand for housing.
However, it is likely to raise its offer rather than risk a walk-out that could prompt a prolonged public sector strike reminiscent of a 2007 strike that dented the economy and damaged support for Zuma's predecessor.
Experts predict the ruling African National Congress (ANC), in a long-standing alliance with Cosatu and the South African Communist Party (SACP), will give in to the unions' demands.
Tuesday's strike affected schools and public offices, but essential services such as police and hospitals were running, albeit on reduced staffing.
A mid-grade public sector employee makes on average 8,800 rand a month in salary and benefits, above the national average wage of 6,383 rand, according to government figures.
Source: Agencies
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