Wage talk cancellation fury

ANGRY public sector trade unions were left hanging this week after the latest round of wage negotiations was cancelled at the last minute.

National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers general secretary Success Mataitsane said negotiators only found out about the postponement when they arrived at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) in Tshwane on Thursday.

”We were surprised. We were all angry that the meeting was postponed at the eleventh hour,” said Mataitsane.

He said the unions took exception to the postponement as negotiations were supposed to have concluded even before former president Jacob Zuma resigned last month.

Mataitsane said unions would meet next week to decide on what action to take to force the government back to the negotiating table.

SA Democratic Teachers Union general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said they were informed that talks between the employing ministers – public service and administration, police, health, social development, basic and higher education – were the reason for Thursday’s delay.

“We don’t have time, we want to conclude within the next week,” said Maluleke, adding that they wanted salary increases implemented by next month’s pay day. The current deal expires on March 31.

Noel Desfontaines, general secretary of the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA, said they were not given a specific reason for the postponement and no new date has been set for a new round of talks. “We are waiting for a new date,” he said, adding that last month’s cabinet reshuffle – when Ayanda Dlodlo replaced Faith Muthambi as public service and administration minister – had further delayed wage negotiations.