2010-04-13
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African municipal workers will expand their national strike over a pay dispute, further disrupting public services in Africa's biggest economy and increasing fears of chaos in cities ahead of the World Cup.

Thousands of members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) took to the streets on Monday, hitting basic services like street sweeping, rubbish collection and vehicle licensing, and reminding worried residents of last year's action when streets were littered with trash and burning tyres.

"Workers want to see matters resolved speedily," SAMWU Secretary General Mthandeki Nhlapo said on Tuesday. "But there will be no compromise from our side."

SAMWU said it planned to intensify existing strikes and to organise strikes in new areas in addition to the present ones.

It has put forward a number of demands including changes in the way the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) evaluates employees and its disciplinary codes.

The municipal workers' strike is not expected to have a major economic impact, but it will embarrass the government at a time of international scrutiny, when preparations are under way to host the soccer World Cup in June.

Workers began striking after the Labour Court dismissed on Saturday a legal attempt by SALGA employers to block the stoppage. SALGA withdrew its case earlier on Tuesday.

SAMWU said its second major protest march in Johannesburg would take place on Thursday.