BusinessLive writes that trade unions are seething with anger following Wednesday’s national budget speech, with a number of them threatening to go on strike in response to the government’s austerity plans.  

In an effort to curb spending on the state wage bill, finance minister Tito Mboweni said national and provincial compensation budgets would be reduced by R27bn over the next three years, while older public servants would be “allowed” to take early retirement.  But, decrying high vacancy rates, public sector unions claimed that the government’s plans to offer voluntary severance packages to thousands of workers flew in the face of existing collective bargaining agreements.  Nehawu, SA’s biggest public sector union, said it would oppose any “undemocratic, authoritarian practices” seeking to undermine and unilaterally alter conditions of employment for its members.  Meanwhile, metalworkers’ union Numsa said it would embark on a mass mobilisation campaign and called on labour federations Cosatu and Saftu to stage a “total shutdown” over the decision to unbundle Eskom.  Cosatu affiliates will meet next week to discuss the federation’s response to the government plans, with some of its members pushing for a review of its 2018 decision to support the ANC during the elections.  The Public Servants Association (PSA) described the interventions in respect of the public sector as “controversial”.

• Read the original of Theto Mahlakoana’s report on the above in full at BusinessLive

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