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BusinessLive reports that union leaders have set the scene for tough negotiations with the government with a double-digit wage increase demand.
Public service unions, which speak on behalf more than 1.3-million teachers, nurses, police officers and other public servants, are demanding a 10% pay hike. The demand will test Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s determination to keep in check the public sector wage bill, which accounts for the biggest share of government spending, after he penciled in a rise of about 1.8% in public sector compensation over the medium term. The unions’ stance in the opening round of negotiations reflects a labour movement emboldened by rising inflation due to a surge in the price of food, fuel and transport, and a government whose tax take was tens of billions rand more than it expected a year ago. “In fact, we are very economical to even be demanding 10%,” said Reuben Maleka of the Public Servants Association. Alongside the 10% wage increase for the 2022/2023 financial year, the unions are demanding a R2,500 housing allowance; permanent employment of community health workers, teacher assistants and security force reservists; access to the pension fund; bursary schemes for children; and allowances of 12% of workers’ basic salary during disasters such as Covid-19. The demands were tabled on Wednesday at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC). The employer is expected to respond to the wage demands on 19 May.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane, Thuletho Zwane and Hajra Omarjee at BusinessLive
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