Cosatu unions firm on strike action
2010-07-31 09:00
Sithembiso Mhlongo and Thando Tshangela
Public sector unions affiliated to Cosatu have rejected government’s revised pay offer and stood firm on their threat to strike.
The government offered an additional R10 to their offer, taking the new housing allowance to R630.
The unions are demanding a R1 000 housing allowance.
Union leaders have described the government’s offer as “laughable” and “ridiculous”.
The government is still not budging from the 6.5% offer while public sector unions are demanding 8.6%.
Public service and administration minister Richard Baloyi had earlier said the government could not afford to move beyond its current offer.
He said said it would be “imprudent for us to plunge the country into a financial crisis through excessive salary deals”.
SA Democratic Teachers Union general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said: “We are calling upon the employer not to insult the public service workers with such a ridiculous offer of a mere R10 – from R620 to R630 for housing allowance – and an unacceptable 6.5% for salary increase.”
He added: “Cosatu unions will start by demonstrations and pickets and on August 10 union members will march in Johannesburg and Pretoria.”
Popcru secretary general Nathi Theledi said the unions “outrightly reject” the offer, adding that they would decide after seven days on when to begin a strike action.