THE strike-weary South African public will once again have to contend with a work stoppage from today by at least 130 000 municipal workers seeking better pay.

THE strike-weary South African public will once again have to contend with a work stoppage from today by at least 130 000 municipal workers seeking better pay.

Municipal workers union Samwu embarks on an indefinite strike in which emergency services, general public maintenance and many of core municipal functions will be affected.

While we support the right to strike as enshrined in our Constitution, we do not agree with the conduct of the striking Samwu workers as evidenced in their industrial action last year.

The strike action organised by Samwu last year unfortunately showed an ugly side marked by, among other acts, the intimidation of non-participating workers and the public.

Another ugly aspect was the tipping over of rubbish bins and littering their contents all over the streets.

On our TV screens and front pages of our newspapers we were shown striking workers blockading roads and causing general mayhem in the streets of our cities.

We call on the parties in dispute to find a more amicable and mutually respectful way of dealing with their differences.

The country has had enough bad publicity over the past few days and this does not bode well as we prepare for the Soccer World Cup.