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Johannesburg - The 200 000-strong Public Servants Association (PSA)
will join Cosatu unions in a national strike on Thursday, an official
said.
"PSA members will from tomorrow (Thursday) be on an indefinite strike together with the rest of labour until our demands are met," said spokesperson Manie de Clercq.
Several public servants started striking on Wednesday, mainly members of the SA Democratic Teacher's Union and the National Health and Allied Workers' Union.
But Chris Klopper, spokesperson for the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC), representing about 460 000 members, said the strike was expected to escalate, since many unions were in the process of getting their members to vote for the strike.
The PSA formally announced in a statement on Wednesday afternoon that its 210 000 members would join in the mass action.
The PSA also embarked on one-day strike action in July, which led the government to improve its offer from 6.5% to 7%.
"The decisive action taken by the PSA at the end of July 2010, which later intensified in the form of countrywide joint protest
actions, proved to be successful," said De Clercq.
"In view of our members' mandate to embark on indefinite strike action in the absence of a substantially improved offer by
the employer, the PSA jointly with the rest of labour rejected the employer's offer and reiterated our demands."
Speedy resolution
Business organisations called for a speedy resolution to the strike.
The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) said it was with "great disappointment" that it noted no agreement had been reached between unions and the department of public service and administration.
"Sacci condemns the undisciplined behaviour of workers in particular instances, notably the intimidation by teachers of pupils attending schools, and by striking health workers of those who willingly report for work," the organisation said in a statement.
"Such behaviour will impact negatively on global perceptions of the business environment in South Africa."
It said the strikes also added to pressures related to service delivery backlogs.
Cosatu and the ILC announced on Tuesday that "the strike is on" after their members rejected government's offer of a 7% salary increase and a R700 monthly housing allowance.
The unions wanted an 8.6% increase and R1000 allowance.
Sacci said the failure to reach an agreement had far-reaching implications.
"The failure to reach an agreement has an impact on the economy that stretches beyond the Public Service Commission," it said.
"Additional pressure on public sector finances and the subsequent need to increase the taxes will have consequential downstream impact on both business and consumers."
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) also expressed concern about the strike, especially its impact on the education sector.
"In light of the upcoming preliminary matric exams, we view this as highly unfortunate," said NYDA chairperson Andile Lungisa.
It would have devastating consequences for learners, who had already lost five weeks of learning as a result of the soccer World Cup.
But the SA Students Congress said it "unreservedly" supported the strike.
"It is about time that the working class demands to be compensated for its worth by the capitalist state," it said in a statement.
"PSA members will from tomorrow (Thursday) be on an indefinite strike together with the rest of labour until our demands are met," said spokesperson Manie de Clercq.
Several public servants started striking on Wednesday, mainly members of the SA Democratic Teacher's Union and the National Health and Allied Workers' Union.
But Chris Klopper, spokesperson for the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC), representing about 460 000 members, said the strike was expected to escalate, since many unions were in the process of getting their members to vote for the strike.
The PSA formally announced in a statement on Wednesday afternoon that its 210 000 members would join in the mass action.
The PSA also embarked on one-day strike action in July, which led the government to improve its offer from 6.5% to 7%.
"The decisive action taken by the PSA at the end of July 2010, which later intensified in the form of countrywide joint protest
actions, proved to be successful," said De Clercq.
"In view of our members' mandate to embark on indefinite strike action in the absence of a substantially improved offer by
the employer, the PSA jointly with the rest of labour rejected the employer's offer and reiterated our demands."
Speedy resolution
Business organisations called for a speedy resolution to the strike.
The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) said it was with "great disappointment" that it noted no agreement had been reached between unions and the department of public service and administration.
"Sacci condemns the undisciplined behaviour of workers in particular instances, notably the intimidation by teachers of pupils attending schools, and by striking health workers of those who willingly report for work," the organisation said in a statement.
"Such behaviour will impact negatively on global perceptions of the business environment in South Africa."
It said the strikes also added to pressures related to service delivery backlogs.
Cosatu and the ILC announced on Tuesday that "the strike is on" after their members rejected government's offer of a 7% salary increase and a R700 monthly housing allowance.
The unions wanted an 8.6% increase and R1000 allowance.
Sacci said the failure to reach an agreement had far-reaching implications.
"The failure to reach an agreement has an impact on the economy that stretches beyond the Public Service Commission," it said.
"Additional pressure on public sector finances and the subsequent need to increase the taxes will have consequential downstream impact on both business and consumers."
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) also expressed concern about the strike, especially its impact on the education sector.
"In light of the upcoming preliminary matric exams, we view this as highly unfortunate," said NYDA chairperson Andile Lungisa.
It would have devastating consequences for learners, who had already lost five weeks of learning as a result of the soccer World Cup.
But the SA Students Congress said it "unreservedly" supported the strike.
"It is about time that the working class demands to be compensated for its worth by the capitalist state," it said in a statement.
