Press Statement dated 8 June 2018
The Public Servants Association (PSA) is extremely disappointed with the agreement that was reached for public servants in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) on 8 June 2018.
The PSA served both the Department for Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) with strike notices in terms of section 64 of the Labour Relations Act, as amended, which would have commenced on 11 June 2018. These strike notices were issued, following failed conciliation processes to resolve the disputes that was lodged by the PSA on these employers’ failure to reach an agreement on cost-of-living increases.
“Unfortunately, the PSCBC this afternoon officially informed the PSA that the majority unions have now signed the agreement after Nehawu also appended its signature. The PSA is, however, not surprised as the alliance partners of the employer will indeed choose to support the position of Government instead of hearing the plea and cry from ordinary public servants,” said PSA General Manager, Ivan Fredericks.
The PSA’s more than 230 000 members have been mobilised to participate in the Union’s national Day of Rage on 11 June 2018 in support of their salary demands. “The signing of the agreement has now resulted in the cancellation of these marches, but the strike action planned for SASSA will, however, still proceed as planned,” said Mr Fredericks.
“The PSA is disappointed that it efforts in the interest of public servants were derailed by those unions that have decided to support this detrimental offer by the employer that has plunged the public servants into three years financial hardship. The PSA will strengthen its efforts to ensure that the face of Public Service collective bargaining changes. The PSA will strive to ensure that the outcome of negotiations is no longer distorted by politics and as dictated by those in support of the mandate from the employer instead of the public servants who entrusted them with their livelihoods. We lost the fight for financial emancipation of public servants but the battle has just begun,” said Mr Fredericks.
Issued by Ivan Fredericks, General Manager, Public Servants Association (PSA)