Zuma tells ministers to negotiate end of strike
South African President Jacob Zuma has told his ministers to return to the negotiating table with unions to try and end an indefinite public sector strike. Zuma’s spokesperson said on Monday that the president had met with ministers over the weekend. Last week the strike threatened to spread to South Africa’s mining sector.
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“The president has met with the ministers and he instructed them to immediately go back to the negotiating table,” said Zizi Kodwa, Zuma’s spokesperson. “In the interest of the country, the strike must be resolved.”
The indefinite strike entered its 12th day on Monday, while on Friday South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers announced that they would hold a strike in solidarity.
Report
"In recent days the rhetoric of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has increasingly been attacking the president personally," says Pretoria correspondent Jean-Jacques Cornish.
Cosatu welcomed Zuma's announcement.
“The federation hopes that an improved offer will now be tabled and that the strike can be settled as quickly as possible, through an agreement which is acceptable to the workers,” said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven.
"The youth wing of the ruling African National Congress has stressed that Zuma is not guaranteed a second term as president," says Cornish. "And with a key policy-making meeting of the ANC only weeks away, he will alienate them at his peril."
Public workers are demanding a pay increase of 8.6 per cent and 1,000 rand (108 euros) housing allowance. The government has offered 7 per cent.
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