The Independent Labour Caucus (ILC) today issued a media statement on salary negotiations in the Public Service despite an agreement between the Minister for Public Service and Administration, Mr Richard Baloyi and the public sector trade union leadership not to comment on the process of negotiations in the media.
The idea behind this agreement is to give negotiators in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) the opportunity to deal with issues before them in an environment that is free of interference and emotions.
The statement by the ILC not only detracts from this noble agreement but seeks to exonerate the ILC, thus creating an impression that the employer party is solely responsible for the delay in the finalisation of the negotiations process. This statement has come as a surprise to the employer given the indication by labour that it is consulting its members on the settlement offer made during the facilitation process. The ILC confirms this fact in its own statement.
The employer is equally concerned about the period taken to conclude these negotiations but however appreciates the fact that, unlike other sectors, we are dealing with the biggest sector in the economy representing the interests of 1.4 million employees. The employer wishes to confirm that negotiations are on course, with the PSCBC scheduled to resume negotiations on Friday, 22 July 2011.
In line with the agreement not to engage through the media, we call upon the ILC to desist from sensationalising the negotiations as this action has the potential to frustrate the finalisation of the negotiations process.
Comments carried in this statement should be attributed to:
Khumbula Ndaba (Deputy Director-General for Labour Relations and Remuneration Management)
For more information contact:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Tel: 012 336 1704
Cell: 082 885 9448
E-mail: dumisanin@dpsa.gov.za
Lebohang Mafokosi
Tel: 012 336 1017
Cell: 082 312 4641
E-mail: lebohangm@dpsa.gov.za
