Eye Witness News *'What a joke', says PSA* *Eyewitness News, Johannesburg, 30 July 2010*The Public Servants Association (PSA) on Thursday described government's revised wage offer as "a joke."
The state is offering employees a 6.5 percent wage hike and a R630 housing allowance, R10 more than its previous offer.
Hours before the proposal was tabled at the bargaining council in Centurion, meetings were held between Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi and union representatives.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga were also there.
The PSA's Manie de Clerq said after all the high-level engagements he was shocked by the offer tabled on Thursday night.
"I don't think these people are taking us seriously," said de Clerq.State employees remained firm on their demand of an 8.6 percent wage hike, a R1000 housing allowance and the equalisation of medical aid subsidies.
Meanwhile, the Basic Education Department said the nationwide PSA strike will not disrupt classes on Friday morning.
It said all teachers were accounted for at schools on Thursday when civil servants downed tools and they were expecting a similar turn of events on Friday.
Teachers unions were expected to strike but on Thursday the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) discouraged teachers from taking part saying it would negatively impact school pupils.
The Education Department's Granville Whittle said all provinces reported a 100 percent attendance on Thursday.
"As far as we know it should be a normal school day and the whole of next week. The South African Democratic Teachers Union has indicated that their strike will commence on August 6. As far as we are concerned we have had normal schooling throughout the country," said Whittle.
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