Public sector employees are engaging in a strike for better salaries. It's a fair request for a better life for all, including the foot soldiers of a democratic government.

Public sector employees are engaging in a strike for better salaries. It's a fair request for a better life for all, including the foot soldiers of a democratic government.

From a constitutional point of view and recognising labour laws, public sector employees are entitled to exercise their rights if they feel the government is exploiting them.

My major concern is that most of the labour union leaders, such as Cosatu and some of its affiliates, have a political agenda.

The most vocal people are the secretaries-general of Nehawu, Sadtu and Cosatu. There is a war of comrades under the pretext of a request for better salaries.

Are the better salaries a real issue or a disguise for something else? Is Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi failing us or being used as a scapegoat to prolong the strike.

It seems as if government employees have a deliberate ploy to render government ungovernable.

The problem is that there are not enough of them to convince the federation leadership to stop the strike.

It appears that the negotiations for a 12percent raise are not in good faith but I am optimistic that the parties will find a solution before it's too late.

Abel Mtshweni , Tshwane