This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8169843.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Thousands strike in South Africa | Thousands strike in South Africa |
(30 minutes later) | |
Thousands of workers in South Africa have gone on strike, with unions saying most public services are disrupted. | Thousands of workers in South Africa have gone on strike, with unions saying most public services are disrupted. |
About 150,000 refuse collectors, city police and public-transport workers, among others, have stopped work in a campaign for higher wages, unions said. | |
Last week there were violent protests over the lack of housing, water and electricity in the poorest townships. | Last week there were violent protests over the lack of housing, water and electricity in the poorest townships. |
Analysts say the strikes and unrest are the first major challenges for new President Jacob Zuma. | Analysts say the strikes and unrest are the first major challenges for new President Jacob Zuma. |
He has called for understanding from workers, but the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Johannesburg says crowd-pleasing promises he made during his election campaign are proving hard to keep. | He has called for understanding from workers, but the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Johannesburg says crowd-pleasing promises he made during his election campaign are proving hard to keep. |
Our correspondent says a pledge to create 500,000 new jobs has already been retracted. | Our correspondent says a pledge to create 500,000 new jobs has already been retracted. |
Strike season | Strike season |
Dale Forbes, from the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), said most members had gone on strike from 0700 (0500 GMT). | Dale Forbes, from the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), said most members had gone on strike from 0700 (0500 GMT). |
He said he was confident the public was backing the strike. | He said he was confident the public was backing the strike. |
"They want to see dramatic improvements in service delivery - which must start with improvements in the conditions of the workers," he said. | "They want to see dramatic improvements in service delivery - which must start with improvements in the conditions of the workers," he said. |
Members of Samwu and other unions walked out after being denied a 15% wage increase. They rejected an offer of 11.5%. | Members of Samwu and other unions walked out after being denied a 15% wage increase. They rejected an offer of 11.5%. |
The country has already faced a major strike by construction workers, which threatened stadiums being built for next year's football World Cup. | The country has already faced a major strike by construction workers, which threatened stadiums being built for next year's football World Cup. |
That strike was ended earlier this month after workers and employers agreed a 12% pay rise. | That strike was ended earlier this month after workers and employers agreed a 12% pay rise. |
Mr Zuma took power in May after an election campaign in which he pledged to ease poverty. | Mr Zuma took power in May after an election campaign in which he pledged to ease poverty. |
He was supported by the main union federation, Cosatu, and the South African Communist Party which wanted a change in the previous administration's economic policies, which they said were too pro-business. | He was supported by the main union federation, Cosatu, and the South African Communist Party which wanted a change in the previous administration's economic policies, which they said were too pro-business. |
However, South Africa has since entered its first recession in 17 years, making it more difficult for Mr Zuma to increase state spending. | However, South Africa has since entered its first recession in 17 years, making it more difficult for Mr Zuma to increase state spending. |