Unions call on government to increase wage offer

Oscar Thomas
25 March 2015

The seven COSATU public service unions together with other unions have called on government to increase the tabled wage offer of five-point-eight percent to ten percent.

This is after the unions have decreased their demand from fifteen percent to ten percent.

The unions also demand ten leave working days for parents with children with disability, a bursary scheme for government employee’s children and three-thousand-rand housing allowance.

First Deputy President of POPCRU Nkosinathi Mabhida says negotiations have been very slow as a result of employer delaying tactics.

Mabhida said the employer came back and increased their meagre 4,8% offer with a shameful 0,2 to make it 5% for the current Financial Year and CPI plus 0,5% in the following two Financial Years.

Mabhida said labour rejected that offer. It was then agreed in Council that the employer must go back to its principals for a revised and a better offer as Labour is still on 10% increase across the board.

Mabhida said Parties to the PSCBC will meet again today to continue with the negotiations.

Mabhida said it must be noted that Labour is fully committed to engage the employer seven days a week until the settlement is reached.

Mabhida said at the same time, as Labour, we will be engaging with our members to comprehensively engage with them on what is transpiring in the negotiations.

“We further call on government to show the same commitment to this process” Mabhida added.