PSA WAGE STRIKE
PSA strike over wages could disrupt key government services
Sunday Times reports that the
Public Servants Association (PSA) will lead its 235,000 members on a one-day stayaway on Thursday that will disrupt airports, border posts and immigration and other home affairs services. The PSA’s Claude Naiker said the stayaway would also affect the issuing of car licences and services rendered by the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Inspectors from the department of employment and labour, responsible for the enforcement of health and safety laws, are also set to down tools. “The essential service workers who are not allowed to strike will picket during lunchtime,” said Naiker. The PSA began lunchtime pickets on Thursday, standing firm on its demand for a 6.5% salary increase across the board, and the continuation of a R1,000 monthly cash gratuity that ends in March 2023. Naiker said the PSA wanted the government to continue the R1,000 cash payments until a new agreement was reached next year. However, the government decided to implement a 3% wage increase after invoking section 5 of the Public Service Act. Naiker said members were informed that the 3% wage offer would be unilaterally implemented, but there was no indication of the effective date. “At the moment it is just a notice. The unions think it is a ploy to frighten us, but this has angered us more because once you unilaterally implement there is no use negotiating,” he said. Last week, Denosa, Nehawu, Popcru and Hospersa were also issued with strike certificates. However, teachers affiliated to Sadtu will not be joining the picket lines after the union accepted the government’s offer.
www.salabournews.co....ekend-labour-reports
Anm.: on Thursday = 10.Nov. 2022
Gruß Gina