The Public Servants Association(PSA) has threatened to intensify demonstrations if the government doesn’t put a “decent” offer on the table.nThe union marched to the National Treasury demanding a 6.5% salary hike. The government has offered workers a 3% salary increase. PSA chief negotiator Jannie Oosthuizen urged the government to put a “decent” wage offer on the table.
“We are demanding a decent wage offer for our members working for the government. The employer has offered 3% and they even have the arrogance to say they will implement unilaterally. We see it (offer) as an attack on collective bargaining and the constitutional right on collective bargaining enshrined in the constitution of this country,” said Oosthuizen.
He added: “We can’t allow the employer to erode the gains that we as labour have made throughout the years. The Ministers who are now implementing this were part of unions and now all of a sudden they want to implement unilaterally. Where does this come from? It just shows the arrogance of the employer which we will not allow.” PSA said the government can source funding to finance the wage bill.
“It is strange that they are citing financial constraints when it comes to public servants. But when it comes to Eskom, there is a bailout and at Transnet when they go on strike, there is a better increase. What must we do more to get a better increase for our members? They can find money all over. They got money from the IMF for energy regulation, again while we were in a debt crisis in the country. So if they want money they can get it but for the workers who assist with service delivery they can’t get money.”
The union has given the government seven days to respond to its memorandum of demands.
