BusinessLive reports that public sector unions on Monday delayed the conclusion of wage negotiations with the government, with only the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) signing the agreement reached last week on Friday.  

Despite attending the meeting at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) where a signing ceremony was supposed to be held, the unions said they required more time before putting pen to paper.  This was to allow time for consultations with members.  Meanwhile, the Public Servants Association (PSA) said it would not sign because the deal did not address its members’ demands.  Labour federation Fedusa, to which PSA is affiliated, said on Sunday that it was concerned about the speed at which parties were moving to conclude the deal.  Its general secretary, Dennis George, indicated that members still had to be consulted.  The biggest union in the public sector, the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), said on Saturday it would engage with members on the wage offer.  Cosatu unions, including Popcru and Nehawu, are expected to discuss the wage offer at a central executive committee meeting of the federation sitting from Monday to Wednesday.  The proposed agreement would secure pay increases for employees of 6%-7% for 2018-19.  Wages would increase by the consumer price index (CPI) plus 1%, to CPI for the successive two years.

• Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive

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