JOHANNESBURG - South Africa faces one of the worst strikes in its history with thousands of government employees downing tools today demanding an 8.6 per cent salary increment.The workforce, mainly dominated by teachers, nurses and Home Affairs personnel, will bring to halt crucial services to school children, hospitals and clinics, among others, the issuing of passports, birth certificates and visas for those that travelling.
The average wage for a South African civil servant is between R3500 and R15000 per month, compared to the salaries in Zimbabwe which range from R1000 and R3500.
Apart from the salary increase, the 1 300 000-strong workforce is also demanding an increase on medical subsidies and housing allowance from R500 (about US$68) per month to R1 000 (US$136).
In an interview, Public Service Association (PSA) spokesman, Mannie de Clerq, said the strike was going ahead today following a deadlock with the government. Workers have been demanding an 8.6 per cent salary increase, while the government has dug in its heels at 6.5 per cent.
I can safely confirm that the strike is going ahead on Thursday. We gave notice of strike, and our strike will be legal, said de Clerq.
He said the PSA had more than 200 000 members, and said that other unions representing government workers would join too.
In a separate interview South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) said its National Executive Committee (NEC) members were trying to decide whether to embark on the strike action.
SADTU spokeswoman, Nomusa Cembi, said NEC officials were engaged in last minute discussions before announcing their course of action.
“At this juncture I can’t confirm whether the workers would go on a strike or not, but the Soweto region has already made its intentions clear- calling for a strike,” said Cembi.
SADTU said the onus was on the employer to ensure that the strike was averted.
Independent Labour Caucus (ILC) spokesman, Chris Klopper, refused to comment.
There was no immediate comment from the government on what measures are they putting in place to ensure teachers, nurses, Home Affairs officials and other civil servants would not cripple the public sector.
If the strike goes ahead as announced, school children are likely to be the worst affected as they are beginning to prepare for crucial examinations while those that at Home Affairs would bring business to a standstill.
Post published in: News