TimesLive reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) says it is preparing for a strike in the public sector after the majority of its members rejected the government’s salary increase offer.

The PSA, which represents more than 235,000 public servants, declared a dispute when the government made an offer of a 2% salary increase. The government later improved the offer to a 3% pensionable salary adjustment, and the continued payment of a non-pensionable cash gratuity of R1,000 until 31 March next year. “The PSA requested a mandate from its members to accept or reject the offer, resulting in a rejection of the offer by the majority of members who provided a mandate,” the PSA advised. The union said parties would convene next Monday to conclude picketing rules, failing which the commissioner would issue such rules. The PSA said it would thereafter issue a notice to strike and commence with lunchtime pickets in support of a strike. “Despite government indicating that the offer is now ‘off the table’ and that it will not reopen negotiations on the current offer, the PSA maintains that the pending huge strike action will prompt government to reconsider its position,” the union commented. It added that it “remains willing to engage government to resolve the impasse.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLive

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