Dispute looms over public service wages

THE Public Servants Association (PSA) says it “strongly condemns attempts by the state as employer to derail the current public service wage negotiations”, and has warned that a dispute is looming.

The PSA said parties to the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council embarked on a facilitation process to speed up the negotiation process. The last offer from the department of public service and administration was tabled on January 26.

“Unfortunately, this process has now instead resulted in more frustrations and delays. Actual negotiations on the wage increase have also not yet formally commenced as parties are still in facilitation,” said PSA general manager Ivan Fredericks.

“The process continued (on Tuesday) but failed to yield results as the employer did not have a mandate to engage on the crucial matters of costof-living adjustments, the housing allowance, or pay progression.”

The PSA said that during a meeting on Monday it had raised concern over “the delaying tactics by the employer” and had expressed its frustration over the slow progress in negotiations.

Fredericks said the PSA and other unions had given the department of public service and administration a deadline of 4pm on Tuesday “to obtain a mandate and continue engagements”.

“The PSA believes that the employer is negotiating in bad faith. Should no real progress be made, the PSA will be left with no option but to explore dispute resolution processes,” said Fredericks.

The PSA said it had advised its members and other public servants to ignore rumours about a new salary offer by the state.

“These messages are a hoax,” said Fredericks. – African News Agency (ANA)