Sassa workers march to improve their lot
ANGRY staff members from SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) marched through the city’s streets to demand better working conditions and salary increases.
“This is not how it’s going to be, enough is enough. We are not going to take this anymore, we are the one’s working in poor working conditions.
“The clients we serve in this country are the poorest of the poor and they treat us like garbage,” provincial manager of Public Servants Association (PSA) Koos Kruger said.
Sassa employees downed tools countrywide yesterday. They marched to Parliament to hold what they called “a symbolic demonstration”.
Kruger said they had tried, in vain, for a year to negotiate with Sassa.
“The minister has been defying us. However, she did invite us today (Monday). We will be waiting to hear what the outcome is.”
Kruger said some of the grievances raised included issues of leave, a danger allowance and better wages. “The issue of danger allowance is because we have employees rendering services in dangerous communities. We want a danger allowance for them like the police.”
The Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) supported the strike action.
“Sassa’s failure to respond to workers’ demands left the PSA with no option but to approach the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. Conciliation for a certificate of non-resolution, which was duly issued on April 23, 2018. An extensive balloting by the PSA mandated its members to continue with the industrial action,” Fedusa spokesperson Frank Nxumalo said.
Sassa said it had a contingency plan to ensure services were fully operational. .