Press Statement dated 6 June 2018
The Public Servants Association (PSA) has served both the Department for Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) with strike notices to commence on 11 June 2018, based on these employers’ failure to present their employees with reasonable salary offers.
The Union’s General Manager, Mr Ivan Fredricks, during a media briefing on 6 June 2018, explained the PSA’s position related to impending strikes in the Public Service and SASSA. The PSA declared a dispute in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), based on the realisation that the employer was negotiating in bad faith and prolonging the negotiation process unduly. This process should have been concluded earlier with the view that salary adjustments are effected as from 1 April of each year. Public servants became increasingly frustrated about the delayed process. The PSA declared a dispute in the PSCBC on the failure to reach an agreement. The disputes were conciliated on 14 May 2018, and on 23 April 2018 in SASSA. Certificates of non-resolution were issued. The wage dispute was also referred for arbitration in the PSCBC on behalf of essential services employees who cannot embark on strike action.
Reflecting on the negotiation process since its beginning, it is becoming more evident that the negotiations may have been a staged process between the state as the employer, its alliance partners - the Cosatu-affiliated unions and even the General Secretary of the PSCBC (a previous representative of a Cosatu-affiliated union, Popcru). These alliance partners may not have anticipated the response from the PSA in the process.
Looking back at the items contained in the initial demand from Cosatu and the final response from the employer at the conclusion of the negotiation process, it is clear that the outcome was already anticipated. Only a few matters raised by the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC), of which the PSA is part, were included in the final offer. When the previous Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Ms Faith Muthambi, made her offer on 26 January 2018, it was rejected by labour, which included the Cosatu-affiliated unions. Yet, the final offer, which was less favourable than the one tabled on 26 January 2018, was accepted by them.
It was unfortunately also these unions that have initially questioned the PSA’s continued participation in the negotiation process after it declared a dispute, instead of the employer. It was also them who decided at the last meeting to adjourn Council on 18 May 2018 after the employer raised its concern that the PSA has served it with a referral for arbitration and yet continued to participate in negotiations. This, merely, to ensure that the PSA is excluded from the finalisation of the agreement, whilst they were having bi-laterals with the employer and tabled the finalised draft agreement in Council on 21 May 2018.
What is evident of the alleged collusion is that the General Secretary of the PSCBC has issued a response to the PSA’s notice to embark on a strike, which was served in terms of the provision of the Labour Relations Act as amended, to consider withdrawing its notice.
In his correspondence, he is implying that the PSA’s notice may be premature based on the negotiation process. This correspondence is based on the same sentiments as expressed in the media statement issued by the employer. The General Secretary conveniently in his correspondence neglected to indicate that the PSA has declared a dispute, had a conciliation and received a certificate of non-resolution in terms of the Council’s dispute resolution procedures. It was also not mentioned that the PSA made a referral for an essential service arbitration for those employees who cannot embark on strike action. Yet, never during any of these dispute resolution processes, did the General Secretary raise any concerns with the process that the PSA is embarking on and, in fact, responded in Council that all the processes are permitted in terms of law.
The same scenario unfolded as SASSA, with an employer that is unwilling to recognise the salary needs of employees serving the most vulnerable citizens of this country.
“The PSA will not be intimidated by anyone or back down when it comes to public sector employees’ legitimate demands for a living wage,” said Mr Fredericks.
Issued by Ivan Fredricks, General Manager, Public Servants Association (PSA)