Do-or-die scenario as public sector wage talks hit a brick wall
By Siphelele Dludla
Share
JOHANNESBURG - A WAGE dispute is looming between public sector workers unions and the government as negotiations have deadlocked at the bargaining council, which could threaten efficient service delivery.
This after the unions yesterday seemingly refused to move from their demands and the government from its offer, respectively, as wage negotiations resumed for the fourth round.
Public sector workers unions are demanding 7 percent salary increases, among other demands, while the government remains steadfast in its zero percent salary offer. Analysts have warned that raising workers salaries above inflation amid deteriorating fiscus could see South Africa’s sovereign credit ratings status degraded further into junk.
Last week the public sector unions met with the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council in an effort to break the deadlock.
The Public Servants Association has given up on an independent facilitation attempt to try to break a wage deadlock.
It has declared a dispute - which means its 235 000 members could go on strike by the second week of June.
Other unions are still continuing with the ten-day independent facilitation process, which started on Sunday.
The Public Servants Association (PSA) has given up on an attempt to solve a public sector wage deadlock by roping in additional help from the UN s International Labour Organisation to facilitate talks.
Talks to avert potential strike by civil servants under way in Tshwane This is a last-ditch attempt by the Public Servants Association and government to find each after the conciliation process deadlocked. FILE: Members of the Public Servants Association (PSA) protest in Pretoria. Picture: Eyewitness News.
a week ago
JOHANNESBURG -Talks aimed at averting a potential strike that could cripple public services are under way in Tshwane.
This is a last-ditch attempt by the Public Servants Association and government to find each after the conciliation process deadlocked.
Unions are demanding a 7% wage increase while government is offering workers a 0% hike.
The deadlock between the public sector unions and government started already more than two weeks ago.
After a second day of meeting with the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council, public sector unions have agreed to have three days of facilitated negotiations from 7 to 9 May, Reuben Maleka of the Public Servants Association of SA (PSA) said on Tuesday evening. This is to give the employer the opportunity to revise its offer, failing which the PSA reserves its rights to kick-start the conciliation process under a council dispute resolution panel, he said.
The PSA represents 230 000 public sector workers.
Mugwena Maluleke of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) said the general secretary of the union and the two chief negotiators, one from the state and one from labour, will recommend to the council two names of facilitators who will take the process of facilitation forward.