Six public sector unions affiliated with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) have reached a deadlock with the government over pay increases.
On Monday, 9 April 2018, Cosatu spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla, told Political Analysis South Africa that no deal has been reached and that they are still waiting for the government to meet their demands.
“We really do not know because they presented 5.5% for less than 1-10 [salary levels] and 4.5% for less than 11 and 12 so we have since rejected that… they are saying that they can only adjust these salaries at the bottom 10 levels using CPI,” he said.
Unions are demanding Consumer Price Index (CPI) +3% for lower level employees and CPI +2% for mid-level employees. They also requested a one-year wage agreement cycle while the government has offered a three-year wage agreement.
Pamla explained, “The problem is there is no increase because an increase starts when you move a percentage point of CPI.”
He reiterated Cosatu’s threat to strike should wage negotiations be further delayed saying that “if they fail to move from the current offer we’ll declare a dispute. There’ll be no any other option.”
Last week, before the negotiations, Cosatu released a scathing attack on the government saying that its members were ready to go on strike should there be further delays in negotiations.
“The failure by the government to take seriously these negotiations at a time when workers are already victims of an increase of VAT and the fuel levy, will feed the already rising tensions,” Pamla said.
