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South African Strikers to Consider New Government Offer

   VOA News 31 August 2010
   A  worker  holds  a  poster  during  a march, at the Union Building in
   Pretoria, South Africa, 10 Aug 2010

Photo: AP

   A  worker  holds  a  poster  during  a march, at the Union Building in
   Pretoria, South Africa, 10 Aug 2010

   Striking  South  African  public service workers are considering a new
   wage offer from the government aimed at ending a 14-day-old strike.
   Officials from the main labor federation, COSATU, and other unions say
   their  members  will  discuss  the  proposal  over  the next couple of
   days.  They say a decision on the offer could come Wednesday.
   The  strike  by  some 1.3 million civil servants has shut down schools
   and led to army medics taking over public hospitals.
   The government's latest offer calls for a 7.5 percent pay increase, up
   from  the earlier offer of 7 percent.  The government also raised its
   monthly housing allowance offer from $96 to $109.
   The public service unions have demanded an pay increase of 8.6 percent
   and a higher housing allowance.
   The  newest government offer comes after South African President Jacob
   Zuma  ordered  government  ministers  to  resolve  the  strike  in the
   interest of the country.

   A  government  spokesman  says the president is particularly concerned
   about the strike's impact on the health and education sectors.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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