South Africa's Public Servants Strike to Continue
- 14 years ago
South Africa's largest trade union is threatening to extend its strike for the next four months if the government fails to meet the demands of more than one million striking public servants.
[Dumisani Dukile, General Secretary, Main Union Federation]:
"The mandate that we have received from members is that they are not going to accept 7 percent even if it means that we must go on strike for the next three months or next four months and members have resolved that they are prepared to take that particular pain, but they are not going to be able to accept 7 percent that has been offered by government. "
The public servants are demanding a pay rise of at least 8.6 percent and R1000 housing allowance.
The government had previously budgeted for pay rises of 5.2 percent, meaning even its offer of 7 percent would add billions.
Health workers prevented patients from entering hospitals as a strike by more than a million public sector workers spread on Thursday.
[Dumisani Dukile, General Secretary, Main Union Federation]:
"They must take all those particular kids who might be sick to the houses of the MEC, including to the house of the minister, including the premier herself. That will be our advise to them, we hope that probably if the MEC for health realize with so many people are taking their kids who are sick to his house, probable he will be able to understand that this matter must be settled."
Investors have reported no impact yet on markets but the longer it lasts, the more the strike will damage sentiment.
[Dumisani Dukile, General Secretary, Main Union Federation]:
"The mandate that we have received from members is that they are not going to accept 7 percent even if it means that we must go on strike for the next three months or next four months and members have resolved that they are prepared to take that particular pain, but they are not going to be able to accept 7 percent that has been offered by government. "
The public servants are demanding a pay rise of at least 8.6 percent and R1000 housing allowance.
The government had previously budgeted for pay rises of 5.2 percent, meaning even its offer of 7 percent would add billions.
Health workers prevented patients from entering hospitals as a strike by more than a million public sector workers spread on Thursday.
[Dumisani Dukile, General Secretary, Main Union Federation]:
"They must take all those particular kids who might be sick to the houses of the MEC, including to the house of the minister, including the premier herself. That will be our advise to them, we hope that probably if the MEC for health realize with so many people are taking their kids who are sick to his house, probable he will be able to understand that this matter must be settled."
Investors have reported no impact yet on markets but the longer it lasts, the more the strike will damage sentiment.