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City Press reports that the commencement of the new round of wage talks between government and public-sector unions has been delayed since last year as a result of a court battle over government’s refusal to honour the last leg of the three-year wage agreement it signed with unions in 2018.
The agreement is due to come to an end later this month, which means a new one should ideally be in place by then. Among 16 demands, public sector unions have asked for a wage increase this year of consumer price inflation plus 4%. The unions are also demanding a single-term agreement. But, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has indicated that any public-sector wage increases were unaffordable. Reuben Maleka of the Public Servants’ Association (PSA) said: “Come March 16 or 17, when they come to us, they must come with a proper response to outlined demands. If they come with what’s palatable, we’ll go back to the members and seek a mandate for whatever is acceptable. If it’s acceptable, we can have a resolution because, come April 1, we want salaries to be implemented. But if [government comes] with a ridiculous response, unions might have to shut down the public service.” Cosatu’s parliamentary coordinator, Matthew Parks, said the federation was deeply opposed to the freeze in expenditure and the way National Treasury had chosen to fund its deficit on the backs of overstretched public servants. In his view, Treasury’s focus on paying down the debt at the expense of saving jobs and stimulating the economy would not miraculously result in a growing economy. The wage negotiations are scheduled to begin at the public service bargaining council’s offices on Tuesday.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thuletho Zwane at City Press (paywall access only)
- Read too, ‘No more funds to pay public servants’, at Moneyweb <https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/no-more-funds-available-to-be-reprioritised-for-public-sector-wages/>
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page