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Johannesburg - Unions representing more than 1 million civil servants and the
government plan wage talks on Thursday, hours before a union deadline to reach
a deal that would avert a prolonged strike.
"We are optimistic
that the government will come back to us with a significant offer. Our members
want to avoid protracted strike action," Sizwe Pamla, a spokesperson for the
public sector union Nehawu, said on Wednesday. The group is a part of the
country's largest umbrella labour group, Cosatu.
Cosatu unions and other
civil service labour groups staged a one-day strike on Tuesday, seeking an 8.6% pay rise, twice the current rate of inflation, and a R1 000 monthly housing allowance.
They threatened a prolonged
strike they said would bring the government to a halt unless a deal is reached
by Thursday.
The action increased
pressure on President Jacob Zuma's government to prevent a repeat of a massive
public sector strike three years ago, which dented the economy and support for
his predecessor, analysts said.
The government has offered
7% and R630 for housing, but analysts believe it is likely to raise
its offer rather than risk a strike just before a policy-setting ANC meeting next
month.
Analysts expect the ANC,
which has a longstanding alliance with organised labour, to give in to the
unions' demands. Such a deal would make it hard to bring the budget deficit
down from 6.7% of gross domestic product without spending cutbacks
elsewhere.
Separately, vehicle sector workers seeking pay hikes of more than triple the inflation rate went
on an indefinite strike on Wednesday, hitting production.
- Reuters