Cape Town - Several unions have rejected a 3% wage increase offer by Acting Public Service and Administration Minister Thulas Nxesi, saying it is below the inflation rate.
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced the increase during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), saying the 3% wage increase by government was fair and would be implemented unilaterally.
Several unions in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council have been given certificates of non-resolution. This after wage talks failed to resolve the issues at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC).
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) spokesperson, Sibongiseni Delihlazo said they had rejected the 3% wage offer.
Unfortunately, we could not agree with the employer at conciliation.
“This ended with the issuing of a certificate of non-resolution.
“Once a certificate of non-resolution is issued, it virtually gives the go-ahead for a strike.
Unions are still engaging amongst themselves on a joint programme of action.
“But they will have to give a notice of a strike to the employer in no less than 7 days before the day of the strike,” he said.
National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi said: ”Our members lost their buying power as a result of non-implementation of the 2020 salary increase, and they continue to suffer non-growth on their pensions due to the effects of non-pensionable cash allowance for the second year in running.
It is prudent that we must fight for a better wage increase than what is being offered.”
DA Shadow MEC for Employment and Labour Dr Michael Cardo said the looming public sector strike came at the worst possible time.
“We have seen in the past how members of these unions are ruthlessly prepared to put their own narrow interests ahead of the broader national interest. Meanwhile, the Public Servants Association is also poised to strike next week.
Together, the unions represent over 800 000 public sector workers. Such a massive strike will sow destruction and bring many public services – on which the man and woman in the street depend – to a halt.
Coupled with the cost-of-living crisis, which is causing no end of economic pain for ordinary South Africans, the strike will throw a spoke in the wheel of our social order,” he said.
Public Service and Administration spokesperson Moses Mushi said the department continued to engage with unions in the bargaining council.
Cape Times