CIVIL servants' unions have suspended their strike ahead of today's crucial meeting with the Government over salaries and working conditions.

The suspension is only for today.Union leaders yesterday said they will proceed with the strike tomorrow if Government fails to table a "meaningful" offer.

The health workers' leadership urged its membership to continue working until their meeting next Wednesday.Health workers fall under the Health Services Board and are not represented by the Apex Council.

Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga on Monday said the Government had a new position paper on salaries and working conditions to be presented to the Apex Council in today's National Joint Negotiating Council meeting.

The NJNC brings together Government and workers' representatives.Apex Council chairperson and Zimta president Mrs Tendai Chikowore yesterday said the five-day strike, which began on Monday, will only be stopped by "substantive awards" from the Government.

"We advise Government to come to the table with a meaningful offer. Our decision to suspend the strike must not be construed as a weakness, but it is only that we want to negotiate in good faith," she said.

"Our next course of action will be announced tomorrow (today) and shall be influenced by the results of the negotiations."

She described reports by some sections of the media that Zanu-PF had hijacked the strike and was using union leaders to attack MDC-T as "mischievous".

"Apex Council discounts and unequivocally rejects the assertions that its call for a strike has been at the instigation of any political party in Zimbabwe. Such claims are calculated to discomfit the Apex leadership and make them lose focus," she said.

Civil servants are demanding US$538 for the least-paid worker.Teachers Union of Zimbabwe chief executive, Mr Manuel Nyawo, yesterday said they were expecting nothing short of an increment.

"We hope the meeting is not another delaying tactic. Our strike has gathered momentum and if they fail to award us increments, it is easy to go back home and fight until we succeed," he said.

Zimta chief executive, Mr Sifiso Ndlovu, said they had suspended the strike "under protest"."It is painful to suspend the strike, but this has happened because of negotiations. We have agreed but members are ready to fight to the end and they are geared for action if they don't get good news," he said.

PTUZ secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said: "Government responded to us through the media, but real trade unionism should follow actual channels.

"We will just go and see what they have to offer. Anything short of our expectations will result in a more ignited action."

Public Service Association president, Mrs Alexander Cecelia added: "We do not have time to waste and we expect Government to respect the people they work with.

"The workers are already in the battlefield and failure to announce an increment means an intensification of the war."

Health workers' leader Mrs Regina Smith said they had met Government officials who had presented an offer.

"I can confirm that we met Government representatives who put their offer on the table, but we want to consult our membership before we plan the next move," she said.The leadership represents all health workers, including doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and other professionals.

The team also represents non-professional health workers."Government tabled a percentage on our salaries and allowances, but we still need to discuss further issues like health medical allowances and what we call the H-factor for non-professional health workers," she said.

Mrs Smith called on health workers to continue working until the meeting next week.Meanwhile, the unions continued mobilising members to join the strike through picketing at most Government offices yesterday.

They, however, received little response as a few workers joined them while others opted to sit in.The strike has paralysed the education sector and yesterday more teachers from such schools as Selbourne, Avondale and Hatfield primary schools joined the job action.

There were no teachers at most schools and pupils were sent home in the morning.There was no sign of activity at schools on the periphery of Harare and the situation was worse in areas such as Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo, Chinhoyi and Gutu.