The South African public workers on Thursday embarked in a Nation-wide strike over wages talks with the government hit a deadlock — threatening to affect essential services.
The strike is been led by one of South Africa’s largest labour unions, the Public Servants Association (PSA), which has more than 235,000 members.
The wage stalemate between the government and its employees escalated after Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi declared he will unilaterally implement a three per cent increase across the board last week.
Unions want a 6.5 percent hike.
Union members including nurses, immigration workers and some police officers picketed outside the Treasury office in Pretoria waving black placards reading “public servants are bleeding”.
The PSA had warned on Wednesday that the strike will “have a serious impact” on the home affairs, transport and border control departments.
It said the minister’s “irresponsible action has further damaged the already fragile relations and severe trust deficit” between the government and unions.
Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, during his October mini-budget speech has said the government can only afford an average wage increase of 3.3 percent.
The increase weighs below South Africa’s inflation which peaked at 7.8 per cent in July.
South Africa’s economy recently took a blow when workers at the state rail and port firm launched a weeks-long strike which left mineral and fresh fruit exports stranded.