On Thursday, Cosatu public service unions vowed to bring the country to its knees, saying the government seemed to want to plunge the country into crisis.
Pretoria’s central business district was brought to a standstill on Thursday as 11 000 public servants took to the streets. But in a week’s time the country could be hit by rolling mass action, stay-aways and civil disobedience, should a settlement not be reached by the government and public sector unions, which are demanding a 10 percent pay rise.
A strike will mean schools, hospitals and government services would work on a skeletal to a no-staff complement.
During the march, major CBD intersections were gridlocked and frustrated motorists had to find “alternative routes”.
This situation was compounded by ongoing city council roadworks – in cases approaching two years – which have seen some streets narrowed to one lane; others have been closed off.
The pay talks at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council stalled again this week.
The government says it cannot afford more than a 5.8 percent increase, but has offered to pay the lowest-paid state-employed workers a 14 percent wage increase.
But powerful police and teachers unions want a 10 percent increase across the board and a R1 500 monthly housing allowance.
Source: IOL