The Minister for Public Service and Administration Richard Baloyi yesterday met with the leadership of Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Independent Labour Caucus in an effort to bring closure to the 2010/11 wage negotiations.
The intensive political engagement between government and labour union leaders was intended to avert a national strike, which would be disruptive to the economy, the provision of public services and detrimental to the education sector. Both sides have agreed to continue with further engagement to resolve the wage dispute in the next seven days.
Minister Baloyi has however called on the labour unions to accept a revised government offer of a salary increase of 6,5% and an increase in the housing allowance from R500 to R630.
The offer as tabled by government has been finalised with the interest of all South Africans in mind. The government therefore appeals to organised labour to be cognisant of the economic challenges that frame the 2010/11 wage negotiations.
The current offer of the employer is for a salary increase of 6.5% with effect from 1 July 2010 and an increase of the housing allowance from R500 to R630 per month. The proposed salary adjustment is additional to the 1.5% pay progression paid to public servants annually for achieving satisfactory (average) work reviews. Approximately 96% of all public servants receive this increase annually. This brings the total government offer to 8.5%.
Government is committed to a continued engagement until a mutually agreeable offer is signed for implementation, of which the Minister insists must happen on or before Wednesday, 4 August 2010.
Enquiries:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Tel: 012 336 1704
Cell: 082 885 9448
Lebohang Mafokosi
Tel: 012 336 1017
Cell: 082 312 4641
