The SA Revenue Service workers protesting during a protracted strike over salary increases, which crippled the public entity.
Image: Theo Jeptha / Independent Newspapers Archives
Salary negotiations at the SA Revenue Service (Sars) with employee representatives, the Public Servants Association (PSA), and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), which are demanding a 9.5% increase, commence on Monday.
The wage talks are for the 2026/27 financial year and are scheduled to be held over three plenaries between May and June.
Labour’s core demands include a single-term wage agreement covering the 2026/27 financial year, as well as an across-the-board salary increase of 9.5%.
According to PSA General Manager Reuben Maleka, the non-core demands include the disclosure of salary pay bands and the purchase of organisational assets, including laptops.
He said they are also demanding the permanent appointment of contract workers and a 100% medical subsidy for general assistants and lower-income employees in grades one and two, limited to the lowest medical aid option and actual premium paid.
Nehawu National Spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi said labour will consolidate demands to present to Sars, and once all the processes are finalised, the union will be able to share with the public; otherwise, it will not negotiate through the media.
On Thursday, unions and Sars held a clarification session, which is the initial stage of the negotiation process where parties engage on submitted demands to ensure a clear and mutual understanding.
“During this session, parties may seek further details, request supporting information, and raise questions on specific aspects of demands. During the clarification session, parties are not engaging in bargaining or making any offers,” the PSA informed its members after the session.
Last month, the Labour Court ruled in the PSA’s favour and dismissed its application for leave to appeal with costs, which paves the way for the matter to proceed to private arbitration.
The union said the dispute relates to the incorrect grading of PSA-represented employees at Sars under the Hay job evaluation system.
The first plenary of the negotiation sessions is set down for Monday and Tuesday, and the second will be held on May 26 and 27, and the final one on June 8 and 9.
The salary negotiations come as the union is also embroiled in a legal battle over long-standing Hay grading against Sars, which it has pursued tirelessly for the past 20 years.
It also indicated that for two decades, it has argued that its members are placed on incorrect grades and have consequently been under-remunerated, with Sars consistently resisting correcting the grading outcomes, forcing the union to challenge the refusal and compel that an appropriate arbitrator be appointed to hear the dispute.
loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za