AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Public workers strike which paralysed South Africa for four weeks comes to an end

Pretoria (Agenzia Fides )- “After consultation with their base, the public sector unions reached a unanimous decision to call to end the strike started on 1 June” Noluthando Sibiya, chairman of the SA teachers union said today 28 June in Pretoria, announcing the end of a strike which froze the public sector for a month (see Fides 13 and 14 June 2007). According to a statement by COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions “This history making strike will leave its mark on the life of state employees”.
The government's final offer of a 7.5% rise in salaries had been accepted by all 17 unions of the public sector except the Teachers Union which called for 12% and then went down to 10%.
Schools were closed because of the strike. But the most serious situation was in hospitals where military medical personnel was sent in to help. Teachers have agreed to back to work but the Union will continue to negotiate with the government.
Earlier this month the Catholic Bishops of South Africa expressed concern for the effects of the strike on the weaker members of society (see Fides 13 June 2007) (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/7/2007 righe 18 parole 200)