ANC CALLS FOR SPEEDY RESOLUTION TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR LABOUR DISPUTE

The African National Congress (ANC) calls on Government and labour to urgently find a speedy resolution to the labour dispute in the public service, which has led to the countrywide strike crippling Government-provided essential services like schooling and hospital services.

With school examinations not far off, the strike action has brought almost all public schools to a standstill, something that has adversely affected thousands of learners. Patients, among them the critically sick - in most public hospitals are being turned away, creating an unhealthy and chaotic situation in the public health sector.

With thousands of learners loitering the streets and patients not getting the necessary services at public hospitals, we call on striking members of public service unions and Government to have a heart by realising the effects the strike action is having on South African children and patients - the majority of whom are poor and vulnerable.

While we respect the constitutionally guaranteed right of workers to strike in support of their grievances, we call on members of striking public sector unions to respect the rights of others who are not part of the industrial action. We strongly condemn acts of widespread intimidation, blockading of non-striking workers from continuing with their work in the schools or in our hospitals - a clear violation of their rights as protected by the Constitution. We call upon the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and individual public sector unions to distance themselves and condemn such acts of lawlessness and criminality. We also call on our law enforcement authorities to act swiftly and decisively when acts of lawlessness by striking workers are observed.

The moment calls for a show of leadership by both Government and labour in putting the interests of the country and its people first and above anything else.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, August 19 2010

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter