Union’s demanded a 12% raise and then lowered it to a 10% raise. The Government offered a raise of 6%. The Union’s rejected. On Tuesday, 12 June 2007, the Government offered a raise of 7, 2%

Some of the union’s will settle for 7, 2% but with other advantages.

Government employees are striking from Friday, 1 June 2007. It’s about two weeks since teachers and medical workers started this strike.

Police and Prison staff was legally barred to take part in the strike. In show of solidarity the police and prison workers threatened to take part in the strike.

Ever since the strike started, school students in some schools did not have school from the 1 June 2007.

As it was pay day yesterday, 15 June 2007, some of the government employees got a huge shock when they realized that they did not get paid for these two weeks that they were taking part in the striking.

A teacher in Johannesburg, whose salary after all her expenses was round about R1800, got a paycheck yesterday for R180.

School students are worried as they did not start writing exams.

In Cape Town, about 400 protesters were preventing hospital staff that did not want to take part in the strike, from entering one of Cape Town’s largest hospitals.

In Bloemfontein police arrested about 25 strikers. They are accused 6 of intimidating hospital staff.

The Government gave orders to dismiss any hospital workers taking part in the strike and dismissals have been made.

The Government is still negotiating with Unions that would not settle for a 7, 25 % raise.

Some Unions say they will not settle for anything less than 10%.

Hopefully the striking would come to an end.