Massive strike could paralyze South Africa

August 19, 2010|Associated Press

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Teachers left their classrooms and trials were postponed as hundreds of thousands of civil servants went on strike yesterday for higher wages across South Africa.

Officials at the South African Democratic Teachers Union, the biggest in the country’s public sector, said all of its 240,000 members left class early yesterday to attend meetings to discuss the strike.

The South African Press Association reported that trials were postponed as court workers joined the strike.

No date for more talks with management was set.

Unions are demanding an 8.6 percent increase in wages and a housing allowance. The government is offering 7 percent plus a smaller allowance.

Public service minister Richard Baloyi said the nation can’t afford more.

“We question how a responsible [union] leadership can advocate for an indefinite strike action knowing why the demand cannot be met in this financial year, knowing the impact such action would have on the delivery of services to all the citizens of the republic, knowing the adverse effects it would have to the very members whose interests they represent,’’ Baloyi said.

South Africa’s public service strikes are often characterized by violent protests. A strike in 2007 lasted a month.

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