The South African Government wants to make clear that its final offer to restive Public Service unions is an effective 7.5 per cent increase, expected to cost R34 billion ($A3 billion).
However, a union spokesperson dismissed the statement as “window dressing”.
The Government statement came after seven unions, representing an estimated 800,000 members, announced a national day of action in protest against the previous offer of a three per cent increase.
Unions are demanding a 10 per cent pay rise.
The union spokesperson said the so-called final offer was made up of a three per cent pensionable baseline increase and a 4.5 per cent non-pensionable increase.
“This is just window dressing,” the spokesperson said.
“It is no different from what has been offered earlier.”
The Public Servants’ Association (PSA) has already held a one-day strike over the deadlocked wage talks, and will now be joined by other unions for another day of action.
A Government spokesperson said it remained committed to the bargaining processes and engagement with organised labour.
“The maintenance of labour peace remains a critical part of the efforts to professionalise the Public Service as contained in the Cabinet-approved professionalisation framework,” the spokesperson said.
“The Government remains committed to respecting organised labour, safeguarding the collective bargaining processes and promoting labour peace,” they said.
“All actions will be taken to ensure that the bargaining process is protected.”
Pretoria, 20 November 2022
