PSA strike had no major impact: Home Affairs

30 July 2010 - 06:13
By Sapa

Despite the strike action at Cape Town and OR Tambo International airports, the department continued ...

Yesterday's strike by the Public Service Association (PSA) has had no major impact on essential services rendered by the department of home affairs, a spokesman said.

Regarding the immigration and civics services, only four percent of the 8,000 home affairs employees did not report for duty due to the strike action, said departmental spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa.

"Despite the strike action at Cape Town and OR Tambo International airports, the department continued to utilise measures it had in place during the World Cup to render essential services at the two airports without any major disruptions."

In Pretoria, the department used the Operational Centre, created to monitor traveller movement for the duration of the World Cup, to monitor and receive reports on a daily basis regarding the impact of the strike.

The department reassured the public that it would continue to render essential services to ensure there was no disruption to traveller and tourist ovement in and out of the country.

It would also deliver critical services to citizens with regard to the issuing of passports, identity documents, permits and various forms of certificates, said Mamoepa.

Some 200,000 PSA members embarked on a nation-wide strike on Thursday to press for better wages.

Public servants were demanding an 8.6 percent salary increase and a housing subsidy of R1000, backdated to April 1.

The government was offering a 6.5 percent salary increase and a R620 housing subsidy with effect from July 1.

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