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Carol Paton writes that now is not a good time for the government to pick a fight with public servants.
Nevertheless, when a good proportion of SA’s 1.2-million public servants wake up on Wednesday, they will notice that they have not been paid their annual wage increases as provided for in 2018 in a three-year wage deal. They will learn this not from their employer, which has not yet communicated with them about its intention, but through their payday banking notifications, which for most will be on the 15th of the month. While the rest of the world applaud their front-line health workers daily, SA will tell doctors, nurses, teachers and police that their Covid-19 sacrifices — which have only just begun — are not that appreciated. Now, more than ever, public servants are being asked to put their lives on the line. But the political mismanagement of the public sector wage negotiations had already planted the seeds of discontent and anger among employees. While the writer notes that there is certainly a case to be made to slow wage growth in the public sector, the case has not been made to the employees themselves. Corruption, waste and plunder of public resources have endangered public finances. Now they are being asked to pay for the excesses of the political elite. Large numbers of health workers and police will be required to implement government’s crisis strategy going forward. While President Cyril Ramaphosa has been very effective in his communication with the public, it is important that he soon speaks to the state’s employees to inspire them too.
- Read the full original of Carol Paton’s opinion piece at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page