Almost half of about 220 000 members of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) have voted in favour of joining the public service strike.
Public servants have rejected a government offer of a 6% pay rise and called for a 12% increase.
Sadtu general secretary Thulas Nxesi said that by Monday evening half the votes had been counted and the job would probably be finished by the end of the week.
Sadtu, with 230 000 members, is the biggest trade union affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). Nxesi said the 7 000 to 10 000 members employed at private schools will not participate in the strike.
Other Cosatu affiliates, the South African Democratic Nurses’ Union (Sadnu), the South African State and the Allied Workers’ Union (Sasawu) confirmed on Monday that their members will be downing tools.
The South African Medical Association said its decision will depend on deliberations with Cosatu on Tuesday.
An independent union, the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa, representing teachers and nurses, also said its members will strike.
Meanwhile, Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi told a press conference that public service unions do not understand the government’s wage-increase offer and therefore cannot negotiate seriously about it.
She said the government wants workshops to explain its offer to those who are in the coordination bargaining chamber. The government is still open to further negotiations, but said it is waiting for organised labour to ”engage”.
”It is not very useful for organised labour to stick to the original position they have put on the table. It does not reflect negotiation; it’s contrary to the spirit of negotiation,” she said.
The unions are expected to announce a date for joint labour action this week. Some reports have suggested that unions are considering joint strike action on May 25.
Fraser-Moleketi said the government has not received any official notification and described the unions’ threats as ”robust campaigning through the media”.
In the meantime, action will be taken against any public service employee taking part in a go-slow or work-to-rule action, Fraser-Moleketi said. The government has not received any official notification of industrial action, including go-slows and work-to-rule. Such action will be considered an unprotected strike.
”We intend dealing with employees who may have decided to take such action,” the minister said.
She said managers across the government have been given the go-ahead to take disciplinary action that may vary from a warning to dismissal. — Sapa