Business Day *Public service unions issue strike notice**Luphert Chilwane with I-Net Bridge, Business Day, Johannesburg, 3 August 2010*
THE public sector union strike gained momentum yesterday as the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC) rejected the government's 6,5% wage offer and R630 housing allowance and served the government with a strike notice.
The ILC represents 11 public service unions and if Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi fails to improve the government's offer tomorrow , about 460000 workers will down tools.
These workers are affiliated with the National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA, the National Public Service Workers Union, the Professional Educators Union and the South African Policing Union.
ILC spokesman Chris Klopper said the unions had rejected the government's offer and taken a decision to serve it with strike notices "as soon as possible".
All the public sector unions have rejected the offer tabled by Mr Baloyi last week at the bargaining council. They have described the offer as ridiculous and an insult to workers. The unions are demanding an 8,6% wage increase, a R1000 housing allowance per month and the equalisation of medical aid subsidies.
Manie de Clercq of the Public Servants Association, another union affiliated to ILC, said yesterday that after submitting a memorandum to Parliament last week, the union had decided to suspended its strike until it had a response from the government . "We have given the minister seven days to respond. Failing to do so will result in a full-blown strike next week," Mr De Clercq said.
Other unions affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions --- the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), the South African Democratic Teachers Union , the Democratic Nursing Organisation and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union --- said they were busy preparing for strike action next week.
"One thing that government does not appreciate is the double cost that it will suffer as was the case in 2007 prolonged disruption of the public service at huge cost and, moreover, having to financially cover grounds lost during striking period," said Khaye Nkwanyana, Nehawu regional secretary in KwaZulu-Natal
Dumisane Nkwamba, spokesman for the Department of Public Service and Administration, said Mr Baloyi was ready to sign and implement the final offer tomorrow "but there is still room for further engagement with the unions". With I-Net Bridge
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