The South African Public Service is on the brink of widespread industrial action with at least three unions declaring a dispute after wage talks with the Government reached deadlock.
Unions and the Government are stuck over a three per cent wage increase offer during negotiations before the Public Service Bargaining Council.
In late August, the Government raised its offer from two per cent to three per cent during a mediation process aimed at reaching an agreement.
However, the Police, Prisons, and Civil Rights Union (POPCRU), the National Education Health, and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), and the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) have declared a dispute.
Spokesperson for DENOSA, Sibongiseni Delihlazo said the three per cent offer was still a far cry from union demands, ranging between six per cent and 10 per cent, which had already been revised downwards.
POPCRU held a march, demanding Public Service pay be raised by not less than 10 per cent, and a reversal of all austerity measures affecting the Public Service.
The Public Service Bargaining Council confirmed the deadlock, with spokesperson, Oomang Parag saying the unions would be invoking the dispute resolution procedure.
“We will continue to encourage parties to resolve their differences and come to an amicable solution for the impasse,” Mr Parag said.
Pretoria, 6 October 2022
