By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The unions and government were locked in wage negotiations yesterday, with no sign of a deal yet.
But Cosatu and other public sector unions have warned they were not going to accept the 0% increase as was reaffirmed by Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu this week.
The union’s senior leaders said any talk of a 0% increase would be inviting trouble, with the strike likely to be declared.
Mchunu had earlier said they were hoping that all parties would avert a strike. He said the National Treasury had told them there was no money.
Finance minister Tito Mboweni last year announced that the government would implement a three-year salary freeze in the sector to cut government spending by R300bn and bring ballooning state debt of R3.95 trillion under control.
But the unions were not backing down and demanding that the wage increases be implemented.
The PSA, other trade unions affiliated to Cosatu, and the Federation of Unions of SA have tabled a salary increase proposal of consumer price inflation plus 4%. The demand is above February’s 2.9% inflation and the SA Reserve Bank’s forecast of an average of 4.3% inflation for 2021.
In a statement issued on Saturday, PSA spokesperson Reuben Maleka said government’s proposal was “absurd” and amounted to “nothing more than ‘shifting’ funds.”
He said government not only proposed a 0% wage hike, but also tried to impose a review on allowances and leave for public servants.
“PSA was, however, adamant that the Union will not agree to reduce any benefits that public servants are currently entitled to. These benefits were achieved through years of intense negotiations.”
Maleka said dispute resolution processes as per the PSCBC’s constitutional provisions would now have to be followed.
He said public servants should have received salary increases at the start of April.
Other demands include a R2 500 housing allowance and a payout of 12% of a public servant’s salary if they are affected by Covid-19.
The state and the unions were locked in another legal battle after the unions went to the Constitutional Court to challenge the wage freeze of 2018.
The government wants to save billions of rand in the next few years. The unions said the state must fight against corruption and ensure workers got increases.
Mchunu took the opportunity to talk tough on corruption, which he said had terrible consequences for the poor.
“The country is at war on all fronts against corruption and corrupt activities in the public service and public administration.”
His department is among many under investigation by the SIU, NPA, Hawks and the auditor-general.
“We encourage them to continue and not tire in their efforts. Government and its leadership pledges its support. There are encouraging signs within the governing party to mean what they say — not only in terms of rhetoric but also in their actions. The whole of society must turn its back on corruption, “he said.
He added that the cabinet had approved the publication of the Public Service Amendment Bill and the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill for public comment.