THE cracks in the government’s relationship with workers will manifest themselves today (on Thursday) when thousands of workers are expected to march to the national Treasury in protest against the government's 3% wage hike offer.
The Public Servants Association (PSA) was the only union that would embark on the national strike with its 240 000 members. But other unions have received certificates of non-resolution and are now expected to join the strike.
Relations between public service unions and the government were further strained by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the establishment of a body that would determine the salaries of public servants.
The PSA said the strike would render most government departments useless, and members were expected to join the march in Pretoria.
“The strike action follows the government's failure to offer a reasonable salary increase for public servants. The PSA tried everything in its power to avoid industrial action but the government refused to engage further on the matter. Instead, the government arrogantly decided to unilaterally implement a meagre 3%-salary increase," said the union in a statement.
The union also accused the government of misleading the public by claiming to have given a greater percentage increase to public servants.
“A R1 000 non-pensionable cash gratuity is included in the initial offer by the government but is due to end on March 31, 2023. All proper mandating and balloting procedures were followed by the PSA after which the union’s members rejected the offer," the union said.
According to the union, members of the public should not visit government departments across the Western Cape from November 8 to 11, 2022, as workers would be picketing in protest against the unilateral implementation of the salary offer.
“The PSA is now demanding an increase of 10% as public servants last received a real salary increase in 2019. Public servants’ pensions are stagnating, and vacancies are not being filled, meaning that they are required to perform the duties of employees who have resigned and retired, which denies citizens the professional service delivery to which they are entitled.
“There are thousands of vacancies in the public service that the government refuses to fill while unemployment continues to soar. Citizens deserve better, and the PSA trusts that the public will understand and support public servants’ plight and resulting actions," the union said.