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Stop strike, pleads Azapo

Johannesburg - The Azanian People's Organisation (Azapo) on Sunday called for government and all concerned parties to find an immediate resolution to the impending public servants strike, for the sake of the poor.

Azapo spokesperson Nonhlanhla Mqwathi said the nationwide strike, starting on Tuesday, would have a negative effect on the poor black majority who relied on the state for their well-being and services.

It would also have an effect on the education sector, especially matriculants who had been given an extended break during the World Cup.

Azapo said the demands of public servants were reasonable considering government had spent millions on world cup tickets, expensive vehicles for public officials and other non-essential items.

It said favourable wage settlements had been reached in the past between government and trade unions.

An example was the 2009 settlement between the South African Local Government Association and two municipal workers' trade unions.

Meanwhile, schools and hospitals were making contingency plans for the strike involving an estimated 1.3 million people employed in the public service.

The education department had asked members of school governing bodies to supervise pupils in the absence of teachers and the health department, though hoping a strike would be averted, would call on private hospitals and the military to help if necessary.

Education spokesperson Granville Whittle on Saturday said departmental teams had been organised across the country to monitor levels of intimidation and adherence to strike rules, with the police on standby if needed.

"There will be huge disruption of classes, especially for matric pupils who are writing their final exams in a few months time and this will have a negative effect [on] our attempts to turn the sector around," he said.

Earlier this week Education Minister Angie Motshekga urged
matriculants to keep studying during the strike period so that they don't fall behind.

"I call upon all learners, especially matriculants to remain focused on their studies."

The department also hoped many parents to organise study groups for their children, as they had done in similar situations in the past.

According to labour law, police officers and nurses are deemed essential services and are not allowed to strike.

The department of health was still hoping for a last minute settlement.

"If there is a strike we will try our level best to minimise the impact," said department spokesperson Fidel Hadebe.

To the question of consequences facing striking health workers he said: "We will cross that bridge when we get there".

The police said there was no indication that their members would be joining the strike.

"Our members are fully aware that they are an essential service and are not allowed to strike," said police spokesperson Colonel Vishnu Naidoo.

But, he added:  "There are always contingency plans in place."

Unions have indicated that they are still open to new offers.

More than 1.3 million public servants affiliated to the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC) would down tools on Tuesday.

They have rejected the government's revised wage offer of a seven percent increase and a R630 housing allowance, as well as a 1.5% fixed pay progression.

They are aiming for an 8.6% wage increase and a R1 000 housing allowance, backdated to April 1.

The ILC confirmed that there were no scheduled talks between government and the unions on Saturday and Sunday.

"The next discussion will be on Tuesday evening and an assessment of the strike will happen on Friday morning," said spokesperson for the ILC, Chris Klopper.

National Cosatu spokesperson, Patrick Craven, said: "Talks can happen anytime".

He said that workers were expected to return to work on Wednesday and another strike may or may not occur depending on the evaluation made at the Friday morning talks.

- Sapa
 

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