Calls for meeting about public servants’ salaries

COSATU’S biggest affiliate, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), has asked for an urgent meeting with the ANC as the battle with the government over the payment of public servants’ salary increases intensifies.

Nehawu wants to sit down with the leadership to inform it about the organisational implications of the non-payment of increases to public servants as resolved at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) in 2018.

According to Nehawu it is unhappy with the non-resolution of the dispute and may be forced to consider other options because of the way its members and workers have been treated by the government.

Spokesperson Khaya Xaba told the Cape Argus yesterday that the date of the meeting would be determined by the ANC leadership’s availability.

The Union also wants to share with

ANC leaders the results of its fact-finding mission on the state of hospitals across the country in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nehawu’s move comes as the Public Servants Association (PSA) is preparing to table new salary demands for the 2021/22 financial year because public servants are into their sixth month of waiting for the payment of increases.

The PSA also wants an expedited hearing of the application before the Labour Court to force the government to honour the PSCBC agreement.

Nehawu complained that delays were negatively affecting public servants and their families, but wanted the collective bargaining process to determine whether the government would agree to a new agreement to continue.

According to the PSA it wants its demands, which it filed in February prior to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivering his Budget speech, to be met promptly. It said this was to ensure a seamless allocation of funds.