action
2 June 2007
The Department of Public Service and Administration has set up a
comprehensive monitoring system whereby government departments across the
country are reporting attendance levels during the strike.
Based on the reports received, we are able to compile statistics with a high
degree of accuracy regarding the extent of the stay away on 1 June 2007.
What is clear is that, overall, the business of government continued and,
with the exception of schools, government was able to continue to deliver
services with minimal compromise.
Across the country, the school sector saw a more than 80% stay-away of
educators.
Excluding educators, the overall percentage of state employees who took
industrial action in national and provincial departments was in the region of
22%.
In national departments the absence rate was not more than 3%.
This translate into a total figure of approximately 467 000 employees.
Disruptions and intimidation occurred in some hospitals in Gauteng,
KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. Assistance was provided by the South African
Military Health Service, minimising the disruption. The South African Police
Service in some instances assisted in resolving tense situations, and union
leadership also assisted in calming some situations.
All ports of entry were fully operational, with immigration officials on
duty with the exception of Ramatlabama which continued to operate, although it
was affected by the industrial action.
Two Home Affairs offices (Oudtshoorn and the Refugee Office) were closed in
the Western Cape, as well as one in the Northern Cape (MPCC Colesburg) and one
in Gauteng (Marabastad), though a certain number were operating under
constraints.
A number of principals closed their schools in contravention of the policy
in this regard.
We stress that while we support the fights of association and the right to
strike guaranteed by our Constitution, we will take disciplinary action against
those who intimidate their fellow employees or members of the public, whom we
are committed to serve.
We remind essential service workers that they are not allowed to engage in
industrial action, which is confirmed by the Labour Court interdict of 31 May
2007, which also interdicts unions from encouraging those providing essential
services to engage in industrial action.
We also remind school principals and governing bodies that in terms of the
South African Schools Act only the Head of the Provincial Education Department
may close a school, and that disciplinary action will be taken against
principals who do not comply. It is the obligation of school principals to take
steps to provide a safe environment for their pupils under such
circumstances.
We must commend those public servants who operated under difficult
conditions and the members of the public who responded to delays with patience
and fortitude.
We remain confident that when negotiations continue this week we will be
able to reach an agreement that is in the best interests of public servants,
government, and those whom we serve, the people of South Africa.
Enquiries:
Lewis Rabkin
Cell: 082 497 3220
Issued by: Department of Public Service and Administration
2 June 2007
