The Citizen writes that thousands of public service workers are willing to down tools across state departments, unless government comes up with a better offer when the parties return to negotiations at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) on Thursday.

Unions said workers were “fed up and tired” as they’ve had no salary increase for the past three years. “We are going back on Thursday to hear whether they will improve on the 2%. Government’s engagement at the beginning was cordial and optimistic. They seemed like they were ready to hear us out. Until last week when they started somersaulting. Workers are ready to fight for what is due to them. If they have nothing to offer then it means negotiations will deadlock and go for conciliation. The lack of movement by the government will lead to a nationwide strike,” said Simon Hlungwani, convenor of the Cosatu affiliates participating in the negotiations. Reuben Maleka of the Public Servants Association (PSA) said his union would start balloting its members on Thursday on a strike. He added that the talks were “demoralising” after months of negotiations with government. The parties met on last Friday, when government tabled a revised offer of 2%, from an initial 1.5% plus a R1,000 minimum cash equivalent for all employees across all employment levels. Unions demanded 10% at the start of the wage talks and have since reduced that to 6.5%. Government has reiterated that the unions’ demand is unaffordable. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana recently indicated that he would be taking an active role in the wage negotiations, a move criticised by the PSA.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Getrude Makhafola at The Citizen (subscriber access only)

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