South African public service called an end to the nearly month long strike Thursday when a majority of unions accepted a 7.5 percent pay offer from the government. The strike began June 1.
The strike, which was the longest and largest since the end of the apartheid regime in 1994, had a devastating effect. The protest showed 600,000 teachers, nurses and other civil servants walk off the job on June 1. Angry union members marched through major cities in demonstrations, while many schools closed due to teacher walkouts and public hospitals operated with help from army medical staffing. The strike was also becoming increasingly embarrassing for the ruling African National Congress.
Unions accuse President Thabo Mbeki of abandoning the poor through his pro-business policies. South Africa’s economy is booming but civil servants have complained their wages can barely keep up with rising prices.
The unions had demanded a 12 percent pay rise at the start of the strike while the government initially refused to budge from its offer of six percent. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said that the majority of unions had agreed to sign up to the government’s offer, which was formally placed on the table on June 22.
Others still had to consult their members while the main teachers union is not prepared to sign and will be in further talk with the government. President of the National Professional Teachers’ Union (NAPTOSA), Dave Balt said discussions over compensation for workers would take place over the next three months.
Schooling will not be affected due to teachers currently on their winter holiday. However, COSATU said all its members who have signed would now return to work.
For more information please see:
BBC – S Africa Unions Calls Off Strike – 28 June 2007
CNN – Crippling Four-Week Strike in South Africa Ends – 28 June 2007
Yahoo – South African Unions End Four-Week Strike – 28 June 2007
BBC – S Africa Unions Split Over Strike – 25 June 2007
