Strikes: Blue Monday ahead

Johannesburg - No trains and buses, minimal municipal services and understaffed pharmacies.

That is what South Africans are facing next week, if strike threats by no fewer than six trade unions materialise.

"There is not any possible indication that the strike on Monday can be averted," SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) general secretary Mthandeki Nhlapho told Sapa.

At least 150 000 municipal workers are stopping work from Monday in a bid to get better pay.

Samwu and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) have both rejected an 11.5% wage increase offer.

The city of Tshwane warned commuters the strike meant buses would not be running.

"Bus commuters should therefore make use of alternative modes of transport if the services are interrupted by the strike," councillor Gabriel Twala said in a statement.

"However, essential services, such as waste management and emergency services, should not be affected by the strike."

Metrobus in Johannesburg issued a similar warning.

"In view of the national work stoppage... Metrobus would like to inform all its commuters that the bus service may not be operating. We therefore urge our commuters and contract clients to makealternative transport arrangements," it said in a statement.

The City of Cape Town warned that refuse collection in informal settlements, street sweeping, the emptying of litter bins and the removal of illegally-dumped material may be affected by the municipal strike.

Meanwhile, the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) said it would make a "last ditch effort" on Friday to prevent a national strike among Metrorail workers.

Both Satawu and the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) have rejected a 7% wage increase.

The two unions, representing 10 000 workers, plan to down toolson Monday, which could leave 1.5 million commuters stranded.

"Utatu and Satawu, who represent over 10 000 Metrorail workers,have already given Metrorail the opportunity to settle wage demands of workers," Utatu said in a statement.

"If not done so, the unions have already served Metrorail with a 48-hour notice of strike action as determined by the Labour Relations Act."

Elsewhere, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) decided on Friday afternoon that picketing and demonstrations would take place next week against both Telkom and the SABC.

CWU general secretary Gallant Roberts said the action could culminate in work stoppages in August.

The union is unhappy over wages, the threat of possible job losses and poor administration.

And members of the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (Ceppwawu) are still to decide if their strike will continue into next week.

The union is in the process of briefing its pharmaceutical workers on a new offer by employers. Talks in the chemicals sector were continuing on Friday afternoon.

Ceppwawu said all its members in the pulp and paper sector were supporting the strike, and pharmacists would also continue staying away from work until a settlement was announced.

The union said members from the petroleum industry would join the strike next week.

- Sapa