By Bonile Ngqiyaza
More than 200 000 teachers have threatened to strike if the government and public servants fail to reach a wage settlement .
Trade federation Cosatu's second-biggest affiliate and the biggest public service union, the SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu), on Thursday became the second trade union to make its intention to strike known.
The next round of talks between the government and the unions is due next Thursday.
The unions have warned that South Africa looks set to be hit by a series of strikes that would "bring the country to its knees".
Wage negotiations - which began last August, involving eight unions with a combined membership of about 1,1-million - reached deadlock last week.
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The two parties show no signs that they will compromise. The government is offering an inflation-related increase of 5,3 percent, revised to 6 perecent.
The unions are demanding 12 percent, with some government employees conducting lunchtime pickets at various government offices around the country.
"A decision was taken to start with these warm-up sessions during which we demonstrate and picket government institutions. Two days ago, it was (the) home affairs department. There are several others that we have identified.
"If the conciliation talks fail on Thursday, we have said we may as well go on strike then," said Alistair Charles, the lead negotiator for the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu).
Speaking immediately after a Sadtu national executive committee meeting on Wednesday, the union's general secretary, Thulas Nxesi, rejected the government's explanation that the 12 percent was unaffordable and described the 6 percent offer as "a slap in the face of workers".
He asked why it was that the judiciary, members of the executive and cabinet were going to receive raises of about 30 percent and more.
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