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Fin24 reports that public sector unions spent Monday gauging the appetite for a full-blown strike among their members, with the Cosatu-bloc of unions set to announce their plans on Wednesday.
However, analysts say the government is counting on unions' strike ambitions being undermined by financial household pressures, a possible low strike appetite, and the working year winding down for the festive season. Meanwhile, their salaries will increase next week, as government begins to pay its unilaterally implemented 3% wage increase for the public service. Acting Public Service and Administration Minister Thulas Nxesi invoked section 5 of the Public Service Act, which allows the minister to implement an increase. So far only the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union has accepted the 3% wage offer. While the Public Servants Association (PSA), which has been granted a strike certificate, has placed the government on strike notice, it has not officially started its industrial action. However, the 235,000-strong union is currently picking government offices. The PSA’s Claude Naicker indicated that the union was continuing with pickets as well as a planned march on Thursday. Four other unions, namely Nehawu, Denosa, Popcru and Hospersa, have also received certificates of non-resolution in the deadlocked public service wage talks. Popcru said it was in the process of canvassing membership for a mandate on whether to strike and that union leadership should know the results of that process by the end of this week. Denosa will provide an update about its stance at Wednesday's briefing. Hospersa said senior management was holding meetings to discuss whether they should join the briefing on Wednesday.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24
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