Strike off after unions sign wage deal YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER

THE Public Service Association (PSA) has backtracked on its planned strike action on Monday after Cosatu-affiliated public service unions agreed to a new wage deal.

PSA general manager Ivan Fredericks confirmed yesterday that his unions had called off the strike action after the majority unions signed.

“It will be a futile exercise. We were defeated by the majority unions affiliated to Cosatu. We are calling off our strike.

“Their decision to sign was a defeat to the interest of the public service,” Fredericks said.

But the Cosatu unions – Sadtu, Popcru, Denosa, Nehawu, Pawusa and Sama – were adamant yesterday that they signed the public service wage deal in the interest of their members.

Addressing the media yesterday, Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said Cosatu unions had used their 59.3% majority in the bargaining council to “push” the government to agree to an average nominal increase of 2.2% above inflation for all public servants.

“This didn’t come because of the social media negotiations by the PSA, but by Cosatu unions that are known for fighting for the workers.

“It is through the maturity of the Cosatu unions and other Independent Labour Council unions, except the PSA who value labour unity in collective bargaining with the employer.

“The PSA miscalculated and prematurely broke ranks from the rest of the collective because they are a social media union and not a genuine union,” Maluleke said.

He also said that the government had agreed to implement the outstanding pay progression of teachers and TVET lecturers of 0.3% in July. The remaining 0.2% will be implemented in July 2019.

A shortfall of 0.2% for police officers will be implemented in July 2019.

The Cosatu unions also welcomed the government’s commitment to give married couples employed by the state equal housing allowances.

“The employer has agreed to bring forward the implementation, which will cover salary levels one to five on September 1,” Maluleke said.

He said a total of 400 000 public servants would benefit.

Implementation for salary level six to 12 will be implemented in September 2019.

“The wage deal will see a 7% increase for junior employees for 2018/19. Mid-level employees will receive 6.5% increase and senior officials will receive a 6% increase.

“Those receiving their salaries on the 15th will receive a separate supplementary run, and those who are paid between the 25th and 30th, their increments will be included in their end-of-june salaries,” Maluleke said.

Detailing their reasons for delaying in signing the wage deal, Maluleke said Cosatu-affiliated unions, including Nehawu, were exercising their right to consult their members.

“PSA deliberately misconstrued that and thought Nehawu was with them. This was just one of the mudslinging tactics. They have dismally failed to divide Nehawu members,” Maluleke said. GAUTENG: Frost in the south at first, otherwise fine and cool. Expected UVB sunburn index: moderate

MPUMALANGA: Fine and cool but warm over the lowveld. LIMPOPO: Fine and cool.

NORTH WEST: Frost in the south-west at first, otherwise fine and cool to warm.

FREE STATE: Frost in the east at first, otherwise fine and cool, but cold along the Lesotho border.

NORTHERN CAPE: Cloudy with morning fog along the coast and adjacent interior, otherwise fine and cool. It will become partly cloudy in the south-west with isolated evening rain. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate northwesterly, becoming light westerly north of Port Nolloth in the afternoon.

WESTERN CAPE: Partly cloudy and cold to cool, becoming cloudy with isolated evening showers and rain in the south and the west, but scattered to widespread in the south-west. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong northwesterly between Saldana Bay and Cape Agulhas, otherwise light to moderate north-westerly. Expected UVB sunburn index: low

EASTERN CAPE: Fine and warm, becoming cloudy in the south-west with isolated evening showers of rain along the South Coast west of Cape St Francis. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong south-westerly to westerly.

Fine and warm, but cool north of the escarpment. The wind along the coast will be strong north-westerly in the morning, otherwise moderate south-westerly.

KWAZULU-NATAL: Fine and cool but warm in the east.

The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh northeasterly. The expected UVB sunburn index: moderate