Thousands gather to picket at UNISA
Thousands of members of the union Nehawu have already gathered at the Sunnyside campus of the University of South Africa.
According to the union's spokesperson, Khaya Xaba, they are expecting a national strike for a better wage offer today.
"We are demanding that workers be offered a 14 percent salary increase and will continue with our national strike until management concedes," he told Jacaranda FM News.
Workers have been offered a 4,5% salary increase.
"We started with our pickets earlier this week but today is the official start of the strike and we will be shutting down UNISA campuses. In Sunnyside our 4000 members will block the gate to the campus," Xaba says.
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He added that there has been no response from management of the university.
"They are hiding behind closed doors, refusing to bring another offer to the table," he says.
Meanwhile, the Tshwane Metro Police's Isaac Mahamba says they are not expecting any delays in traffic around UNISA.
"We received an application for picketing outside the building and it is not supposed to affect traffic at all," Mahamba says.
He adds that should there be any disruption to traffic, Tshwane metro police officials will intervene.
"We are keeping our eye on the situation at UNISA in Sunnyside this morning," he says.
Photo: @Phumutiny
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