Unions not backing down

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi told thousands at a strike rally outside the gates of Parliament: ‘The government has a choice: Do they see a long winter or do they want to settle?’ He said the 7.25% increase proposed by mediators in wage talks was an insult to the unions. In Johannesburg, the SA Democratic Teachers\' Union (Sadtu) told public-service strikers that negotiations between the government and public sector unions had been a joke, says a report on the Mail & Guardian Online site. ‘I regret to inform you that what is supposed to be negotiations has become a joke,’ said Sadtu general secretary Thulas Nxesi. ‘The negotiation has become a sham ... I have bad news for those who want to go back. We are so far from going back (to work),’ he said. Nxesi slammed the government for failing to show any political will and failing to commit itself to dealing with the issues under negotiation. The ANC yesterday called on all striking public workers to resist elements that ‘are bent on acts of violence and intimidation’. The party said it commended the majority of strikers for their disciplined and peaceful manner. ‘However, we deplore the violent acts that have accompanied some protests in the past 12 days, including intimidation, assault and the destruction of property,’ the party said in a statement. Full report on Mail & Guardian Online site

There were sharply conflicting claims on the turnout. One union said 600 000 workers took part in countrywide marches, while government put the figure at 70 000, notes a report on the IoL site. Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said initial reports suggested Wednesday\'s events had been ‘excellent’. The public service and administration department said the mass action had a ‘minimal impediment’ on most service delivery. ‘It is estimated that in all centres across the country 70 000 workers participated in the marches,’ said spokesperson Lewis Rabkin. Full report on the IoL site

Still on labour issues: The Port Elizabeth High Court earlier this week granted the Eastern Cape Government an interdict preventing striking civil servants from protesting near its offices and hospitals during yesterday’s action. The court ruled that the striking public servants should not intimidate or prevent non-strikers reporting for duty, says the Daily Dispatch. Eight public service unions were listed as respondents including Nehawu, Sadtu, Hospersa, Denosa and Naptosa. In his ruling, Judge Ronnie Pillay ordered union members to stop intimidating, assaulting and threatening those workers who wanted to report for duty. He also ordered that they should not stop the public from entering government offices, or stop government officials from entering or leaving government buildings. Nehawu provincial secretary Cyril Langbooi said his union – one of the biggest in the public service – had not opposed the government court interdict because ‘we have never encouraged intimidation or incited violence’. Full Daily Dispatch report