Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Striking South African Workers to Respond to Latest Offer Monday

   Peter Clottey 05 September 2010
   Civil  servants  workers  protest  outside  the  Natalaspruit hospital
   demanding  better salary increases in Johannesburg, 18 Aug 2010, after
   the Unions rejected the government's offer

Photo: AFP

   Civil  servants  workers  protest  outside  the  Natalaspruit hospital
   demanding  better salary increases in Johannesburg, 18 Aug 2010, after
   the Unions rejected the government's offer

   The  spokesman for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
   said,  after  days  of  consultations  with public sector workers, the
   union   will   announce   Monday  whether  to  accept  or  reject  the
   governmentâs pay raise offer.

   Patrick  Craven  denied  media  reports  the  workers have lost public
   support  due  to  violence  associated  with  walkout that began 18^th
   August.

   âConsultations  with union memberships continued right through Sunday.
   Obviously,  Iâm  not  at  liberty  to  reveal what the contents of the
   statement will be,â he said.

   President  Jacob  Zuma ordered ministers back to the negotiating table
   with  striking  workers  after  the public sector workers rejected the
   governmentâs latest offer.

   Public  sector  workers,  including  teachers  and  nurses,  have been
   protesting  since  the  government  rejected  their demands for an 8.6
   percent  pay  raise  and a monthly housing increase allowance to 1,000
   rand  ($137).  The  government has offered to raise wages by 7 percent
   and increase the housing allowance to 700 rand.

   Analysts  say  the  ongoing  strike  has  shut down schools, disrupted
   hospitals  and  undermined  President  Jacob  Zumaâs  support or labor
   unions.

   Craven  told  VOA  the  striking  workers  still enjoy enormous public
   support for their demands.

   âThere  is  still overwhelming support for the strike particularly its
   basic demands. There has been a great deal of anger over the incidents
   which  have  taken  place  and  the  unions  themselves  have  made it
   absolutely  clear that they condemn acts of violence, intimidation and
   threats. But, that is really a separate issue as far as the main issue
   of  very low salaries among staff public servants and very bad working
   conditions,â Craven said.

   He  also  rejected claims that the government has no money saying that
   the  administration  has  been  hit by âwave after wave of scandals of
   wasteful  expenditure and luxury accommodation for ministers and World
   Cup  tickets  (for)  senior  officials and expensive cars. There is an
   overwhelming  feeling  that that money ought to be spent on giving our
   public  servants decent salaries for the very difficult work that they
   do.â

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