Public servants back at work in KZN

2010-09-07 12:32

Durban - No violence was reported as public servants returned to work in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday after their national strike was suspended, provincial police said.

“We have not received any incidents so far... .At the moment we are unaware of anything,” Brigadier Phindile Radebe said.

KwaZulu-Natal education department spokesperson Mbali Thusi said teachers and pupils had returned to school.

“We are anticipating that a lot of learners will return to school today [Tuesday].”

KwaZulu-Natal health department MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo’s spokesperson Chris Maxon said nurses had been going back to their posts since Monday.

“Nurses were returning to work. There were minor problems at King Edward [Hospital in Durban] where some workers were expected to return to work tomorrow [Wednesday].”

Public service unions suspended their prolonged pay strike on Monday, pending the outcome of consultations with their members and the government in the next 21 days.

About 1.3m public servants rejected the government's opening pay offer of a seven percent increase and R700 a month housing allowance. The government later increased this to 7.5% and R800. The unions wanted 8.6%, a R1 000 housing allowance and for other issues, such as medical fund payments, to be addressed.

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- SAPA