Public Service Workers Strike in South Africa

 

By Delia Robertson
 
A one-day nationwide strike of civil service workers in South Africa has brought education to a standstill and affected¹ many other state agencies. Tens of thousands of civil services workers participated in protest marches across the country.

Union leaders have hailed the strike as a resounding² success, with some saying as many as 700,000 workers walked off the job Thursday.

However, police, health and prison departments say that they have not experienced disruptions and that most workers have reported for duty. Striking is illegal for employees of these designated essential services.

However, most teachers have supported the strike and for the first time all but one teachers' union voted for strike action. Teacher Rapula Samuel, says it helps their cause when both black and white unions work together.

"Ja [yes], this year for the very first time all the unions agree on mass action, so I think its more powerful than other years," said Rapula Samuel.

The lowest paid primary school teachers earn $465 per month, while the highest paid school principals earn $2,230 per month. They say their annual increases since 1996 have not kept pace with inflation. In that period, annual increases have ranged between five and eight percent, with the lowest paid teachers receiving the highest increases.

But Mr. Samuel says that he still struggles to achieve basic goals such as owning his own home.

"The problem is the government is so stubborn," he said. "Because we are working, I have been a teacher for about 12 years now, but my living hasn't yet improved, I'm still suffering, I can't buy a car, I can't afford to buy a house. So we are struggling really."

Negotiations³ with civil service unions began in April and deadlocked⁴ this week with the unions insisting on a seven percent increase and the right to renegotiate increases each year for the next two years. The government offered six percent plus an additional performance linked one percent and increases pegged⁵ to inflation for the next two years.

The parties are expected to return to the negotiating table Friday, but some union leaders have warned that unless the government is more forthcoming strikes could continue throughout the coming summer.

Delia Robertson, VOA News, Johannesburg.

r注释：
standstill 停滞
disruption 中断
designated 指定的
annual 每年的
inflation 暴涨
stubborn 难处理的
negotiation 谈判
deadlock 僵局

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 resounding   

adj. 响亮的

参考例句：

• The astronaut was welcomed with joyous,resounding acclaim. 人们欢声雷动地迎接那位宇航员。
• He hit the water with a resounding slap. 他啪的一声拍了一下水。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 deadlocked   

陷入僵局的；僵持不下的

参考例句：

• The plan deadlocked over the funds. 这个计划由于经费问题而搁浅了。
• The meeting deadlocked over the wage issue. 会议因工资问题而停顿下来。

5 pegged   

v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的过去式和过去分词 )；使固定在某水平

参考例句：

• They pegged their tent down. 他们钉好了账篷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She pegged down the stairs. 她急忙下楼。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》