Public Workers In South Africa Embark On Nationwide Strike Over Pay
Public workers in South Africa have embarked on a Nationwide strike over increase of wages after talks with the government hit a deadlock.
The work stoppage was led by one of South Africa’s largest labour unions, the Public Servants Association (PSA), which has more than 235,000 members. The wage stalemate between the government and its employees escalated after Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi last week declared he would unilaterally implement a three percent increase across the board.
Unions want a 6.5 percent hike.
Union members including nurses, immigration workers and some police officers picketed outside the National Treasury offices in Pretoria waving black placards reading “public servants are bleeding” and delivered a list of demands.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana made it known during his October mini-budget speech that government could only afford an average wage increase of 3.3 percent.
The increase weighs below South Africa’s inflation which peaked at 7.8 percent in July.
South Africa’s economy recently took a blow when workers at the state rail and port firm launched a weeks-long strike which left mineral and fresh fruit exports stranded.
