COSATU and its allies set out the reasons for suspending the strike: “the reasons for suspending the strikes are: The employer has failed to crush the strike and finally succumbed to the demand by labour to withdraw the signed agreement. This is a victory in the history of the public service negotiations where the employer was forced to reopen negotiations. Our action was about the plight of our people to receive quality service by motivated public servants. The strike was about placing the needs of the poor and social issues such as health, education and a social safety net at the top of the national agenda by paying a living wage to the workers by the government.”
The NEC of the ANC issued a statement welcoming these developments, stating that the suspension of the strike “will give an opportunity:
- For both government and the unions to refine the final agreement
- For both government and the unions to development a clear framework to process issues
- To talk to the need to refrain from hurling insults at each other during protests. Hurling insults is not helpful but complicate the process of negotiations and hardens attitudes.
- To the ANC and the Alliance to deal with Alliance relations objectively“
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?include=docs/pr/2010/pr0906b.html&ID=5588