Public servants' strike set for Friday

By Sonata Lee
31 May 2007

The public service unions held a press conference at the COSATU headquarters today to announce the type of impact tomorrow’s strike will have on the public sector.

COSATU leader, Tony Ehrenreich told the media that although this is a full-scale strike, essential service workers at hospitals and prisons will report to work and provide the minimum level of service while non-essential staff will picket outside the workplace. Ehrenreich insisted that the unions are upholding their responsibility to service the community by keeping 25 percent of essential staff on the job.

Ehrenreich reiterated the union’s commitment to strike until all demands are met. The unions have demanded a 12 percent salary increase while the government has offered 6 percent. Salary negotiations remain at a standstill with the government increasing their offer to 6.5 percent and union representatives finding the offer unacceptable.