Trade union bosses continue to draw their salaries while 1.3-million public servants face mounting debt and lost earnings.

After three weeks of the public servants' strike, which has crippled hospitals and schools and which has seen public servants lose billions in income, union bosses have lost nothing.

While most trade union leaders, including Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi, were unavailable for comment yesterday, Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said their salaries would not be affected.

"As far as I know they are getting their normal salaries. But that is normal," said Craven.

He said public servants belonging to unions would still pay their monthly membership fees, which are used to pay union leaders' salaries.

Vavi earlier this year revealed his R42000 monthly salary, R27000 of which he takes home.

Vavi drives an Audi A6, which Cosatu bought for him four years ago, and he has no intention of changing it any time soon.

He is not a director of any lucrative companies, but is a director of the Cosatu-linked Cubah Properties.

Efficiency Group chief economist Dawie Roodt yesterday said the strike's biggest losers would be the workers, who would lose more than they gain. For every week they strike, they lose almost 2% of their annual salary.

"It is stupid to strike for longer than one week. Workers will be more in the red and struggle to catch up," he said.

A "no work, no pay" rule applies to all striking workers.

Negotiations are still under way, with the government, including President Jacob Zuma pleading for all parties to settle to avoid further chaos.

The Government is offering a 7.5% increase and R800 housing allowance, but unions have refused to budge and are demanding 8.6%.

A public servant earning R10000 a month would lose about R2500 a week, which would amount to R7500 so far.

A Johannesburg nurse, who provided The Times with her pay slip, earns a gross salary of R12003.75 and takes home R3710 after tax of R1271, a bond repayment of R4106, her insurance policies and a R70 Denosa membership fee.

"I have to work overtime to make ends meet," she said.

Roodt said: "This is a huge dilemma. I understand trade unions being upset about ministers' lavish spending on cars etcetera, but workers are losing big time."

He said even if government gave in to the 8.6% demand, salaries would not increase dramatically.

Public Service and Administration spokesman Dumisani Nkwamba said the government is yet to establish the cost of the strike.