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Johannesburg - Public sector workers will embark on a full-blown, indefinite strike on Wednesday after rejecting the government's latest pay offer.
"The strike is on," SA Democratic Teachers' Union president Thobile Ntola said on Tuesday night at a briefing by Congress of SA Trade Union-affiliated unions and the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC).
"The government went on strike first by refusing to give in to the demands of the workers," he said.
"Tomorrow (Wednesday) all public sector workers will embark on an indefinite strike until such time that the state comes to its senses."
ILC chairperson Chris Klopper said its demand of a medical subsidy, housing allowance and recognition of academic qualifications and a night-shift allowance had not been addressed since the 2007 public sector strike.
Workers are demanding an 8.6% wage increase and a housing allowance of R1 000.
The government has offered a seven percent salary pay hike and R700 housing allowance - up R70 from its initial offer of R630.
Ntola said the unions expected 95% of the 1.3 million public sector workers to hold mass marches in all nine provinces.
Public Administration Minister Richard Baloyi would address the media on the way forward in Cape Town on Wednesday at 13:00, said his spokesperson Dumisani Nkwamba.
