SOUTH AFRICA: After eight months of negotiations between unions and government without reaching any agreement on demands, public service unions went on strike on June 13.
The strike involved municipal workers, taxi and bus drivers, and electricity and cleaning staff, officials from border posts and airports, teachers, nurses and other court servants.
Workers demands included:
- 12 per cent wage increase
- Reform of pay structures
- Medical Aid increase
- Better recognition of their upgrading of qualifications
- General review of condition of services
According to the Public Service Administration Department, the government put on the table an immediate 7.21 per cent increase and a rise next year. In addition the government offer included increases to bring salaries of nurses and professionals closer to those of their private sector counterparts. Nurses and lawyers would see this increase under the current proposals from July 1. School teachers and principals salaries would be adjusted from January 1 next year and other education workers from April next year. Some categories of workers will get this additional increase from July 1 next year and other in 2009.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) supported the strike. A special Central Committee appealed to its members working night and afternoon shifts to participate in the march. This was in spite of labour legislation restrictions on secondary strike action. The union also urged members who were not forbidden from participating in the strike to hold protests at lunch time. The media reported on violence and intimidation during the strike and unions complained about the harsh treatment by police during picketing.
The public service strike mainly affected the education and health sectors leading to the closure of most schools and obliging the army to provide emergency cover in hospitals.
