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'Massive' strike in South Africa Strike escalates in South Africa
(about 2 hours later)
Thousands of public sector workers have joined one of South Africa's biggest strikes, with trains not running and few commuters seen in Johannesburg. Thousands of public sector workers have taken part in peaceful marches across major South African cities as unions stepped up strike action over pay.
People in red T-shirts are gathering for 40 marches countrywide, as public sector trade unions warned of a total economic shutdown over pay demands. Protesters in red T-shirts chanted slogans denouncing the government's handling of the 13-day strike which has seen most schools and hospitals closed.
President Thabo Mbeki has called for an end to intimidation by some strikers.President Thabo Mbeki has called for an end to intimidation by some strikers.
Negotiations between the unions and the government are in deadlock, complicated by the sacking of 600 health workers.Negotiations between the unions and the government are in deadlock, complicated by the sacking of 600 health workers.
The unions have refused the government's revised offer of a 7.25% pay rise.The unions have refused the government's revised offer of a 7.25% pay rise.
You can't negotiate by the barrel of a gun. A conducive environment needs to be created for progressive talks Noluthando Mayende SibiyaHealth worker SA strike voices Press worry over strikeYou can't negotiate by the barrel of a gun. A conducive environment needs to be created for progressive talks Noluthando Mayende SibiyaHealth worker SA strike voices Press worry over strike
Workers, who had wanted a 12% increase, say they will not go below 10%.Workers, who had wanted a 12% increase, say they will not go below 10%.
Most schools and hospitals have already been closed for 13 days. Unions say their activities were intended to peak on Wednesday and urged other workers to join them in a one-day "solidarity" strike.
Unions say their activities are intended to peak on Wednesday and have urged other workers to join them in a one-day "solidarity" strike.
"It's going to be a total shutdown... in public services and the economy. It's going be a massive strike involving marches in major cities and pickets outside government buildings," said Willy Madisha, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) labour federation."It's going to be a total shutdown... in public services and the economy. It's going be a massive strike involving marches in major cities and pickets outside government buildings," said Willy Madisha, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) labour federation.
Cosatu has predicted as many as two million people could stay away from work.Cosatu has predicted as many as two million people could stay away from work.
Petrol bombsPetrol bombs
The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says there are few commuters visible in South Africa's economic capital, suggesting workers have heeded the call to stay away. The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says there are few people visible in South Africa's economic capital during the morning commute, suggesting workers have heeded the call to stay away.
What kind of society we are building... when insults [and] violence... become the stock-in-trade during protests? President Thabo Mbeki href="/1/hi/world/africa/6252945.stm">Crucial year for ANC What kind of society we are building... when insults [and] violence... become the stock-in-trade during protests? President Thabo Mbeki href="/1/hi/world/africa/6749029.stm">Why unions are flexing their muscles
Private schools in Johannesburg have also shut their doors, he says.Private schools in Johannesburg have also shut their doors, he says.
Trains services countrywide have been affected, also making it difficult for many private sector workers to get to their offices.Trains services countrywide have been affected, also making it difficult for many private sector workers to get to their offices.
There have been reports that some workers are being intimidated into striking, and the home of a teacher has been petrol-bombed.There have been reports that some workers are being intimidated into striking, and the home of a teacher has been petrol-bombed.
President Mbeki condemned such actions.President Mbeki condemned such actions.
"All of us should ask ourselves, what kind of society we are building and what moral lessons we are imparting when insults, violence against fellow workers and damage to property become the stock-in-trade during protests of this kind?" Mr Mbeki said."All of us should ask ourselves, what kind of society we are building and what moral lessons we are imparting when insults, violence against fellow workers and damage to property become the stock-in-trade during protests of this kind?" Mr Mbeki said.
MarchesMarches
Our correspondent says police officers and soldiers are closely monitoring the strike.Our correspondent says police officers and soldiers are closely monitoring the strike.
Security is tight amid reports of intimidation of non-strikers HAVE YOUR SAY These strikes are massively important for the South African working class Patrick, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6613&edition=1&ttl=20070613115000">Send us your comments
There is tight security as marches are planned in more than 40 places across the country. In Cape Town, workers have marched to parliament. There has been tight security for the marches and in Cape Town workers picketed parliament.
In Johannesburg, the police advised people to avoid the city centre where some 2,000 teachers in red T-shirts have gathered for a march. The government says it is ready to deploy troops to protect those who still want to work.
"We also advise businesses along the route to try to close from 10am to 4pm," police spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane said, the South African Press Association reports.
The sacking of more than 600 striking nurses has not helped negotiations, our reporter says.The sacking of more than 600 striking nurses has not helped negotiations, our reporter says.
The unions say they will not agree to anything until the nurses are reinstated.The unions say they will not agree to anything until the nurses are reinstated.
Striking workers will have their pay docked, and the threats of sackings have been dismissed by some strikers.Striking workers will have their pay docked, and the threats of sackings have been dismissed by some strikers.
"You can't negotiate by the barrel of a gun," health worker Noluthando Mayende Sibiya told the BBC's Network Africa programme."You can't negotiate by the barrel of a gun," health worker Noluthando Mayende Sibiya told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"A conducive environment needs to be created for progressive talks on the wage increases. So we think that threats by the employer are unfortunate.""A conducive environment needs to be created for progressive talks on the wage increases. So we think that threats by the employer are unfortunate."
Political battleground
Cosatu is officially a partner in government, but it has criticised the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for not doing enough to raise living standards of the poor.Cosatu is officially a partner in government, but it has criticised the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for not doing enough to raise living standards of the poor.
The ANC is due to choose a new leader later in the year to succeed President Mbeki, with deputy ANC leader Jacob Zuma as a candidate.The ANC is due to choose a new leader later in the year to succeed President Mbeki, with deputy ANC leader Jacob Zuma as a candidate.
Some analysts feel the strike is really a battleground for the various camps within the ANC ahead the election.Some analysts feel the strike is really a battleground for the various camps within the ANC ahead the election.
HAVE YOUR SAY These strikes are massively important for the South African working class Patrick, UK Send us your comments
"I think an economist would probably agree that if they could get 7.5% this would be a major victory," Robert Schrire, head of politics at Cape Town University, told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"There are more issues at stake than simply the money... They're asking: 'Who is going to run this country? Is it going to be the weakened presidency of Thabo Mbeki or is it going to be, as they see it, the ascending forces of Cosatu, the SACP (South African Communist Party) and the Jacob Zuma supporters?'"
Until now the ANC has been the dominant partner in the governing alliance, he says.
"We're beginning to see Cosatu taking advantage of a weakening President Mbeki and a divided ANC to see if they can renegotiate the terms of the alliance at which Cosatu would be at least an equal partner if not the dominate partner in the coalition."