WEDNESDAY, 5.00PM
PUBLIC service workers can expect salary adjustments backdated to July 1 after the Public and Allied Workers Union (Pawusa) and government negotiators reached agreement in Pretoria this week.
The agreement comes after the government made available a further R169,3-million for additional salary increases and brings the salary ranges of teachers and police in line with the broader public service sector.
According to Pawusa, salary increases range from 3% for top-level management to 11,12% for lower-paid workers. Pawusa earlier accused the government of negotiating in bad faith after it unilaterally granted teachers and police higher salary increases than other public service workers.
Pawusa also argued that the salary increase granted by the Cabinet to Cabinet ministers, and national and provincial MPs of between 11% and 20% was grossly unjust and demanded a better salary package.
The union said it doubts the honesty and credibility of Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, who it claimed said in June this year that no funds were available for further increases, while unilaterally approving funds for teachers and police.