South Africa: Strikes could tarnish the image of the country

By on August 24, 2010
“The strike will continue but it will be different this week because the strikers will stay home”, Manie de Clercq, the spokesman for the Civil Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) said.

“There is nothing spectacular, but a mass action is planned on Tuesday”, the spokesman said. Schools, hospitals and courts are most affected by the movement. The striking employees have closed schools, blocked roads and barricaded hospitals across the country.
The movement of the PSA, strong enough with its 200 000 members, will be joined by other unions. Last Sunday, the newspaper, Argus, had reported that two other teachers’ unions will take part in the strike.
The South African government has mobilised the military to maintain the service in 33 public hospitals and on last Saturday, South African President, Jacob Zuma, said that the present strike movement would tarnish the image of South Africa. He added that the strikers would lose the sympathy of South Africans if they keep on disrupting the lives of the people.

Last Tuesday, the South African trade unions have rejected the offer of a 7% increase in salary. They demanded an increase of 8.6% of salary and an increased allocation of housing.

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