Trade union mass action to ramp up in the new year

JOHANNESBURG - Government may have won the battle when the Labour Appeals Court dismissed public-sector unions’ application seeking an enforcement of wage increases, but the war appears to be far from over as unions have now vowed to appeal the judgment, as well as embark on mass industrial action early next year.

The wage agreement that was meant to take effect on July 1 stated that the public-sector wage bill was due to increase by up to seven percent, or – under the consumer price index – plus one percent, depending on job grade. However, the Labour Appeals Court this week deemed that enforcing the agreement would be “unlawful” as it exceeded the wage envelope budgeted by National Treasury for the department of public service and administration, and the offer was made without receiving the necessary approval from Cabinet and National Treasury.

The ruling has left the Public Servants Association (PSA) and Cosatu-affiliated unions the National Professional Teachers’ Association of SA, the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA, the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and the National Teachers’ Union incensed and plotting their course of action to force government to bow to their demands for a wage increase in the public sector. The local government elections are happening and mass protests are the last thing the ANC needs.According to the PSA and the Cosatu-affiliated unions, “mass industrial action as we enter the New Year” is definitely on the cards.

Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke indicated that the country should indeed brace itself for mass protests come January, as a last resort for unions.

However, he also indicated that the union’s national executive committee (NEC) met at the weekend, and a concrete plan of action would be communicated. –