Public service unions get ready to rumble
Public service unions are preparing for the ‘mother of all battles’ once the lockdown ends, after government reneged on its multiyear wage agreement
SA’s labour unions are preparing for "the mother of all fights" after the government last week reneged on the final leg of its wage agreement with public sector workers.On April 15, the first group of SA’s public servants — nurses among them — were to receive salary increases based on the 2018 deal struck in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC). Under that agreement, the government would pay general workers and support staff an increase of the projected consumer price index (CPI) plus 1%. Higher-level public servants were to receive an increase of projected CPI plus 0.5%."Sadly, there are no adjustments," Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) general secretary Riefdah Ajam told the FM after the first tranche of salaries was paid.Fedusa has launched a labour court application to force the government to implement the agreement. However, the matter is likely to be heard only once the court reopens in May.SA’s biggest public service union, the National Education Hea...
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