PUBLIC service unions and the state were still on Friday locked in talks in Pretoria in a bid to resolve a seven-month pay deadlock. The talks in the public service central bargaining chamber started at about 10.30am, a spokesman for Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said. Some of the 12 unions had lowered their initial demand of a 10% pay rise to an inflation-related increase in the past week. The state’s latest offer, tabled on Tuesday, provides for teachers and the lowest-paid public workers to receive a 7% pay rise. About 85% of employees were offered a 6,3% increase, while those in higher ranks would get between 4,7% and 6,2%. Unions which have staged limited strikes in the past two weeks suspended their action on Tuesday pending the outcome of Friday’s meeting. Several of them this week said they will embark on an indefinite stayaway from Monday if the state does not come up with a satisfactory proposal.
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