South African Government Workers Suspend Strike

Translated Tuesday 7 September 2010, by Gene Zbikowski and reviewed by Gene Zbikowski

Government worker trade unions in South Africa announced Monday they were suspending the three-week-old strike by 1.3 million government workers.

“The workers have agreed to suspend the strike but this does not mean that we have accepted the government’s offer,” said the 19 trade union organizations in a joint communiqué.

Government workers are demanding an 8.6% wage hike and an annual R1,000 ($138) housing allowance. Last week the government offered a 7.5% increase and a R800 housing allowance.

A trade union representative noted divisions among the strikers regarding the offer. The trade unions have given themselves 21 days to draft an agreement.

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