[South Africa] Thousands of public workers strike after pay talks deadlock

[South Africa] Thousands of public workers strike after pay talks deadlock
25 Nov 2022

In South Africa, thousands of public workers downed tools on November 24 in a nationwide strike over wages after talks with the government hit a deadlock, Africanews reports.

The work stoppage - which threatens to affect essential services -.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 standoff between the government and its employees reportedly escalated after Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi declared he would unilaterally implement a three per cent increase across the board, last week.

Unions are seeking a 6.5 per cent hike.

Union members including nurses, immigration workers and some police officers picketed outside the Treasury office in Pretoria with placards reading "public servants are bleeding".

On November 23, the PSA cautioned that the strike would "have a serious impact" on the home affairs, transport and border control departments.

It said the minister's "irresponsible action has further damaged the already fragile relations and severe trust deficit" between the government and unions.

During his October mini-budget speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said that the government could only afford an average wage increase of 3.3 per cent.

The increase reportedly falls below South Africa's inflation which reached a peak of 7.8 per cent in July.

South Africa's economy took an earlier blow after workers at the state rail and port firm launched a weeks-long strike which left mineral and fresh fruit exports stranded.


Source: Africanews

In South Africa, thousands of public workers downed tools on November 24 in a nationwide strike over wages after talks with the government hit a deadlock, Africanews reports.

The work stoppage - which threatens to affect essential services -.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 standoff between the government and its employees reportedly escalated after Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi declared he would unilaterally implement a three per cent increase across the board, last week.

Unions are seeking a 6.5 per cent hike.

Union members including nurses, immigration workers and some police officers picketed outside the Treasury office in Pretoria with placards reading "public servants are bleeding".

On November 23, the PSA cautioned that the strike would "have a serious impact" on the home affairs, transport and border control departments.

It said the minister's "irresponsible action has further damaged the already fragile relations and severe trust deficit" between the government and unions.

During his October mini-budget speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said that the government could only afford an average wage increase of 3.3 per cent.

The increase reportedly falls below South Africa's inflation which reached a peak of 7.8 per cent in July.

South Africa's economy took an earlier blow after workers at the state rail and port firm launched a weeks-long strike which left mineral and fresh fruit exports stranded.


Source: Africanews

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