Public servants strike in South Africa
By Norm Dixon
More than 370,000 public sector workers went on strike in South Africa on July 25 in support of their demand for a 9% wage increase. Tens of thousands of teachers, nurses, public servants, police and prison officers rallied and marched in Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Bloemfontein.
Public sector unions affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions threatened further stoppages unless the African National Congress government increases its 7.5% offer.
The government is resisting the pay demand because it conflicts with its economic policy, which is based on cutting government spending. This is despite last year's promise to pay public sector workers above inflation increases for three years. Inflation in South Africa is 9.5%.
"There is a need to move away from current macro-economic policies which stifle employment creation and economic growth, which condemn the poor and the unemployed to perpetual poverty and lead to job losses", COSATU said.
"Our government has failed to negotiate with us in good faith", said Zwelinzima Vavi, COSATU assistant secretary general.
"It has not stuck to its previous agreements. In short, the trust between COSATU's public sector unions and the government's negotiating team has suffered a serious setback, and our relations are at an all-time low."