SA public sector strike set to continue

  1. Posted on Thursday 2 September 2010 - 09:30
    guyson
    Image of guyson
    Nangayi Guyson, AfricaNews reporter in Kampala, Uganda Credit: BBC
    South Africa's public sector strike set to continue SA's public sector strike is set to continue after the main trade union federation rejected an improved wage offer from the government. The Cosatu federation said the majority of its affiliated unions had voted against the proposal. The strike - now into its third week - has seen many schools and hospitals grind to a halt.
    South Africa unions condemn court actions over strike
    Earlier this week, the government raised its pay offer to 7.5%, but the unions are demanding 8.6%.

    The government also offered an 800-rand (£71, $110) housing allowance - up from the earlier proposed 700 rand. But the unions want a 1,000-rand allowance.

    "The unions met this afternoon and Cosatu rejected the offer. The strikes will continue and we will continue to consult our members," Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi told Reuters on Wednesday.

    However, the Independent Labour Caucus - a smaller union federation - said its members were split on the government offer.

    Cosatu did say it was suspending a one-day sympathy strike on Thursday by all its member unions to give the state workers more time to consult. Further talks are now expected later in the day.

    About a million civil servants are already on strike, but Cosatu's total affiliated membership is double that.

    Earlier this week, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma called for fresh attempts to negotiate a solution to the strike.

    The stoppage has had a crippling affect especially on hospitals, where army medics and volunteers are caring for patients.

Latest News

  1. AFCON: 46 hurt in Zambia victory celebrations09/02Over 40 casualty cases were recorded Wednesday night at Zambia's University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after post-match celebrations turned violent …
  2. African Peer Review Mechanism making progress08/02In 2003 the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the continental development plan, initiated the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM…
  3. Combating HIV infections among African women08/02With a lack of knowledge and power, African women continue to bear the brunt of HIV infections.
  4. Legume cultivation booms in Western Kenya07/02Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) who traditionally relied on seed companies for all their seeds are now bulking their own legume seeds for their farms.
  5. Malawi vendors chase out Chinese07/02Vendors in Kalonga, the Northern district of Malawi, on Wednesday petitioned the District Commissioner to flash out all Chinese nationals who are doin…
  6. Zim: Informal sector urged to join HIV battle05/02While the Harare City council is busy engaging in running battles with city vendors, Health Minister has called for authorities to devise ways to form…
  7. Elections: Wole Soyinka warns Mugabe, Wade03/02The Nigerian Nobel Prize winner for literature said heads of states who are trying to cling to power suffer the same fate as the dictators who were sw…
  8. AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02Following a deadlock during Monday's African Union elections, with a tie between former wife to South African president Jacob Zuma, Home Affairs …
  9. Senegal in turmoil as protest intensifies01/02Hundreds of anti-government protesters Tuesday gathered in the central Dakar, Senegal to show their dissatisfaction over the incumbent president Abdou…
  10. Zimbabwe’s inflation still favourable -…01/02Zimbabwe's annual headline inflation still compared favourably with economies in the region, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono said o…
  11. AFCON 2012: Sudan qualifies after four decades31/01The Sudanese national team has sealed a historic win over the Stallions of Burkina Faso.
  12. Senegalese opposition to intensify protests31/01Opposition and civil society groups in Senegal have vowed to increase their fight against incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade's presidential bid.
  13. Malawi: Rights coalition condemn stripping of…30/01The 39 members of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights Coalition based in 18 African countries have vehemently condemned the stripping of wo…
  14. Kenya to deworm five million children annually30/01Kenya launched the second phase of its national deworming programme at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012, aiming to treat 5 million childre…
  15. Benin’s Yayi Boni is AU’s new…30/01President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic has been elected chairperson of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa
News archive