The Labour Court was expected to rule on Thursday on whether police, prisons and traffic officers could join an already crippling three-week public-sector strike.
The Labour Court issued an interim interdict last Friday prohibiting members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) from taking part in the industrial action.
It also ordered Popcru not to promote police involvement in the strike, which has highlighted divisions between the African National Congress (ANC) and its powerful trade union allies.
Government and union negotiators have postponed until Friday talks aimed at ending the strike to enable labour to consult members, officials said on Wednesday.
Popcru has close to 120 000 members, the majority of whom are uniformed police officers.
The mass action that began on June 1 has crippled some state institutions such as hospitals and schools and support by Popcru would pile pressure on President Thabo Mbeki, whom unions accuse of promoting big business and leaving behind millions of poor South Africans.
Hundreds of thousands of workers have taken part in the strike, which analysts say has become a demonstration of workers’ power ahead of a leadership congress this year that may see the ANC name a successor to Mbeki.
Popcru had planned to start marches and picketing on Thursday in support of the countrywide strike over better wages.
Should Popcru go ahead, the demonstrations would be conducted by off-duty officers as well as the union’s estimated 15 000 civilian support staff.
Its general secretary, Abbey Witbooi, said the South African police had issued an order that he and other union leaders be charged with contempt of court for inciting members to strike.
”Because of that [court] interdict we have decided to postpone demonstrations until the matter has been resolved,” said Witbooi.
Union officials say the government has revised its pay rise offer to 7,5% from 6% and better housing. Labour is asking for 9% after an initial demand of 12%.
The government says a drastic wage increase would crowd out other spending while the central bank fears inflation-beating pay rises could further fuel price pressures and prompt higher interest rates in Africa’s biggest economy. – Reuters 2007