The ruling ANC criticised its alliance partner on Tuesday for its handling of the public sector strike, saying it should have been called off, not just suspended.
"From where we are seated the strike should have actually been called off," said African National Congress secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.
"Why was the strike suspended?... I think the unions are buying time to engage with their membership. That's my own view," he told reporters in Johannesburg.
Mantashe said the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), as the umbrella body of unions, should not have become directly involved in wage negotiations. All public sector unions should rather have had individual representatives at salary talks.
"I don't think in the future it wise for Cosatu to be engaged directly in the negotiations," Mantashe said.
He was briefing the media after a special national executive committee (NEC) meeting held on Friday to discuss the national public sector strike, which was suspended after 20 days on Monday.
Mantashe said the NEC decided to call a meeting with Cosatu to deal with their "relations" within the tripartite alliance, which also includes the SA Communist Party.
"Many things were said ... on how the alliance is about to collapse," said Mantashe, in an apparent reference to comments made by Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi during the strike, which was marred by violence and intimidation.
Vavi said that the alliance was "dysfunctional" due to "confusion" over power.
A meeting was scheduled to take place with Cosatu on Monday, during which the ANC intended to express its "dim view" of the criminal acts that took place during the mass action.
He said the ANC supported the no work, no pay principal for striking workers.
Mantashe also complained about the "hurling of insults during the industrial action", when President Jacob Zuma was criticised by strikers.
Mantashe called on leaders of public sector unions to take some responsibility for the way the strike ended.
The government tabled a revised offer of 7.5 percent and an R800 housing allowance last week, up from seven percent and R700, in the hope this would end the strike, which crippled state hospitals and disrupted schooling.
But instead of calling off the strike, the unions only suspended it.
Mantashe said if more unions had been involved directly in the talks, there would have been a greater appreciation on the ground for the effort involved in negotiating a better offer.
"They must structure their delegations differently," Mantashe said.
"That structure should be more balanced towards a more representative structure of unions and membership.
"That would be my advice to them because when Cosatu goes there and actually involved... they actually weaken their position," said Mantashe. - Sapa