The COSATU Public Service Unions and the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC) that represent more than 1.3 million workers have been on strike for three weeks fighting for a living wage and improvement of the conditions of employment. Labour has decided to suspend the strike and this does not mean that we have accepted the state offer.
The reasons for suspending the strikes are:

The South African Democratic Teachers Union has called on its members to report to work as from tomorrow and we hope that by Wednesday there will be normality. This call has come after the COSATU-aligned Public Sector Unions and the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC) issued a joint statement announcing the suspension of the strike.

2 JUNE 2010

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has described the alleged decision by the ANC National Working Committee to lay disciplinary charges against COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi as another attempt to silence COSATU in its campaign against corruption. The alleged decision is both laughable and mischievous.

MEDIA STATEMENT

The latest statement issued by Government stating that in “real terms” government is offering public service unions an 8,5% increase, is pure misinformation aimed at causing confusion.

The Government has added the Pay Progression – an old and hard fought gain by the Unions - on to the 7% salary increase offer to claim this 8,5% increase. The Government must explain to the public and workers that, the general salary increase for 2010/2011 is only 7% as contained in the draft agreement. Labour is demanding a general salary increase of 8.6%. 

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has strongly condemned the shooting of its members with rubber bullets - without any provocation - by metro police during a march in the South of Johannesburg today.

The shooting left six SADTU members injured - two suffered head wounds.