Can underperforming Sars avert a crippling strike?
Almost 10,000 employees could down pens on Thursday as unions demand a double-digit increase and an end to cutbacks
Thousands of staff at the SA Revenue Service (Sars) could down tools on Thursday as they push for a double-digit wage increase at an agency that has consistently missed its revenue targets for the past four years. Meetings will continue on Monday, but the parties remain far apart. Unions are demanding a one-year agreement and an 11.4% increase, while Sars is offering 7.1% in the first year of a three-year inflation-linked agreement. Unions at Sars maintain that their members are being prejudiced by years of mismanagement at the agency, and are being pushed to meet increased revenue targets while posts are going unfilled and benefits are being rolled back. The Sars bargaining council covers just fewer than 10,000 employees, with about 5,300 represented by the Public Servants Association (PSA) and 4,400 by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union. PSA labour relations officer Stefan Viljoen said on Sunday the reduction of benefits at Sars is adding to the wage dispute, ...
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