More than one million public workers strike in South Africa

[Hannah Bell]

More than one million public workers went out on strike Wednesday in South Africa demanding higher wages. Strikers, including large numbers of teachers and workers in the health care industry, gathered in protests outside the country’s hospitals, schools and government buildings.

As many as 90 percent of unionized public workers are said to have joined the strike. The walkouts are expected to continue on Thursday with workers threatening to block major highways into Johannesburg.

Workers are rejecting a proposed 7 percent wage increase and are instead demanding an 8.6 percent increase. The government had agreed after four days of negotiations that preceded the strike to raise public workers’ monthly housing allotment to 700 rand, up from the current 630 rand, but the number was rejected as inadequate. Public workers are demanding at least 1,000 rand for housing.

While workers are asking for a living wage and affordable housing, they are being told there is no money available to provide for their needs. At a press conference, Public Services Minister Richard Baloyi declared, “As government, as the employer, we have indicated and demonstrated for all to see that our capacity to afford is actually exhausted.”

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/aug2010/soaf-a19.shtml

[tabatha]

1. Nationwide strike set to intensify

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-08-19-nationwide-strike-set-to-intensify

The 200 000-strong Public Servants' Association (PSA) announced on Wednesday that it would join striking Cosatu unions.

"PSA members will from tomorrow be on an indefinite strike, together with the rest of labour, until our demands are met," said spokesperson Manie de Clercq.

Large numbers of public servants started striking on Wednesday, mainly members of the Cosatu-aligned South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) and the National Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu).

Public-service unions embarked on an indefinite strike on Wednesday after rejecting the government's revised wage offer. The M&G headed to Thokoza where members of the National Health and Allied Workers' Union were protesting outside the Natalspruit Hospital.

Another non-Cosatu union, health union Hospersa, announced its 72 000 members would join the strike on Thursday.

Chris Klopper, spokesperson for the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC), which represents about 460 000 workers, including the PSA, said the strike was expected to escalate since many unions were in the process of getting their members to vote for the strike.

VIDEO ---------------------
http://www.mg.co.za/multimedia/2010-08-18-publicservice-unions-strike-in-thokoza

It is a good that they are striking - a strong impediment to govt waste. I love the way they strike - singing voices all in unison.

[Hannah Bell]

2. KICK for the world-wide push-back.

[leftstreet]

3. Oh wow. Excellent video!

Thanks for posting that