Now Sassa workers go on strike

Confusion at payout takeover

WORKERS at the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) are set to down tools, after they refused to be part of the government’s wage offer signed by Cosatu-affiliated unions.

The workers’ protest action comes amid confusion over the takeover of grant payouts by the SA Post Office (Sapo) from Cash Paymaster Services, whose contract ends in September.

Public Service Association (PSA) general manager Ivan Fredericks said the union’s more than 230 000 members have been mobilised to participate in the union’s national day of rage today, in support of their salary demands.

“The signing of the agreement has resulted in the cancellation of these marches, but the strike action planned for Sassa will, however, still proceed.”

The three-year wage deal was presented at the Public Service Co-ordinating and Bargaining Council (PSCBC), but only about 40% of employees represented at the bargaining council signed the deal.

These include the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), and National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu).

Suitable

Tony Ehrenreich, Cosatu’s Western Cape secretary, said: “We are not joining the strike. We believe that in the current circumstances, the proposed offer is suitable.

“What is of importance is that lower band workers will get the biggest increases.

“But we support the PSA’s right to strike.” Ehrenreich called the strike a PR exercise.

Following a visit to Sassa’s Athlone paypoint, the standing committee on community development expressed its concerns over the failed communication of the changes.

The DA’s provincial spokesperson on community development, Lorraine Botha, said at an unannounced oversight visit to the Belthorn Community Hall in Athlone on Tuesday last week, that the committee had noted with concern that not all beneficiaries present were aware of the impending changes with regard to the new Post Bank cards and other developments at Sassa.

She said she would be inviting Sassa to the standing committee to explain how it planned to address the various challenges.

She also urged beneficiaries to bring along their old Sassa cards and their ID documents to their local Sassa offices for the card swop.