Johannesburg — EMPLOYEES at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) are expected to go on strike today, after unions rejected a revised 9,5% average pay rise offer tabled at the weekend, SARS said yesterday.

The Labour Court will rule this morning on a bid by SARS for an urgent interdict to halt the strike, on grounds that its employees provide an essential service. SARS spokesman Adrian Lackay told Business Day that for now the strike was "protected" by the timing of the court's decision.

This meant the 14000 SARS employees who belong to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) or the Public Servants Association (PSA) would go on strike today . SARS employs 15000 people .

"Unfortunately, (neither) Nehawu nor PSA accepted our offer ... both unions will embark on a one-day strike (today) and possibly (tomorrow) ," he said .

SARS raised its previous 8% pay increase offer to bring it into line with a broad public service salary proposal which would give civil servants an 11,5% pay rise . Unions across the economy have demanded -- and received -- double-digit pay hikes this year despite the recession and rising unemployment. About 475000 jobs have been shed this year.

The SARS management were discussing "contingency" plans to minimise disruption at customs border posts today, Lackay said.

"We expect the biggest disruption at branch offices where taxpayers come to submit their returns, but we will hopefully have systems in place to alleviate that," he said. Union officials were not available for comment.

Lackay said SARS had not included Nehawu in its original court application as the union had indicated on Friday it would not embark on the threatened strike -- but changed its mind yesterday.