News South African news
Public service unions have suspended their prolonged pay strike pending the outcome of more consultations with members and the government in the next 21 days.
"Labour has decided to suspend the strike and this does not mean we have accepted the State's offer," said Sadtu president Thobile Ntola at the Bargaining Council in Centurion on Monday.
Workers will be going back to work as early as Tuesday.
Referring to the State as having been "arrogant" Ntola said unions have 21 days to finalise consultations and at the same time consultations will take place with government.
"We are prepared to be convinced, we do not want to pre-empt on whether we will sign or not. We will cross that bridge when we get there," she said. "Members themselves decided on the suspension."
However this was different from what was happening outside earlier when some members expressed their dissatisfaction at the news. "You must go back to work and then come back and strike again. They must be kidding," said one of the strikers.
"Don't sign, we must continue with the strike," said another.
About 1.3 million public servants rejected the government's opening pay offer, pushing for an 8.6 percent increase, a R1000 housing allowance and for other issues such as equalisation of medical fund payments, to be addressed.
The government last week revised its offer to a 7.5 percent salary increase and an R800 housing allowances and agreed to discuss the other issues raised.
