Government notes with grave concern the rejection of the employers revised wage offer by labour as represented in the Public Service Coordinating and Bargaining Council (PSCBC) and their consequent announcement to embark on an indefinite strike.
The engagement between government and the leadership of the unions has to date been characterised by commitment, transparency and accountability on the part of the employer. The employer has prioritised the negotiations with a determination to bring closure to the 2010/11 wage round to ensure labour peace with a view to avert disruptions to service delivery as a key obligation of the state.
The total contribution by the employer on the revised offer amounts to a 9.4 percent wage increase for public servants at salary levels 1 to 10 and 8.5 percent for salary levels 11 and 12. The increase is inclusive of a 7 percent wage increase, a 0.9 percent increase on housing allowance amounting to R700 per month and a 1.5 percent annual pay progression which 90 percent of employees within service qualify.
Government remains committed to responding to the issues in the second phase of negotiations scheduled for October 2010 which include among others;housing with a focus on ownership, equalisation of medical aid subsidy with a view to resolve all outstanding issues.
Matters for further collective engagement include the need to review our remuneration policy, the synchronisation of salary negotiations with the government budget cycle, the return to April as the implementation date; the building of a sustainable capacity in our negotiators, as well as the introduction of a multi-term focus in salary negotiations.
Whilst government recognises the right of employees to strike, we call on all employees and their trade unions embarking on strike action to adhere to the rules of engagement by ensuring peaceful protests applicable in our democracy. Employees are also strongly cautioned against the intimidation of non-striking public servants and damage to property. All trade union leaders must ensure that their members act in a disciplined and peaceful manner.
Government condemns in the strongest terms the disruptive protests witnessed over the past few days with stringent measures to be taken against employees that violate the code of good practice.
As public servants embark on the indefinite strike, government reiterates that the no work, no pay principle will be strictly enforced with deductions effected for the duration of the strike action.
All public servants who perform essential services in health, police, correctional services and ports of entry are expected to report for duty in accordance with the Labour Relations Act which stipulates that a dispute must be subjected to arbitration for resolution.
We however remain committed to engaging our labour counterparts to find a solution in order to normalise the situation as soon as possible recognising that the fiscus has exhausted and any further movement would require tradeoffs on service delivery programmes and job creation in the context of existing government priorities.
For more information contact:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Cell: 082 885 9448
Tel: 012 336 1704
Lebohang Mafokosi
Cell: 082 312 4641
Tel: 012 336 1017
