The government has shocked public service unions by declaring a dispute following two months of wage negotiations in Centurion, unions said on Friday.
Success Mataitsane, head of the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers Union (Nupsaw), described the move as very unusual and Anton Louwrens, general manager for the Public Servants Association (PSA), admitted it was a surprise.
”It’s the first time in the history of negotiations, which started in 1994, that government has called a dispute. Normally it’s the unions who do so,” he said.
The government has been bargaining with eight unions including the PSA; the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu); the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu); the Police and Prison Civil Union (Popcru); and the South African Police Union (Sapu) since April.
Department of Public Service and Administration spokesperson Madoda Mxakwe confirmed a dispute has been declared, because the government feels there has been no ”movement” since the start of negotiations.
”When we began both parties agreed to a speedy resolution. There was a joint commitment to have negotiations completed by the end of June. Public servants were in fact expecting their salaries to be adjusted by July 1,” he said.
Because this has not happened the decision has been taken to introduce a ”third party”, he said.
Mxakwe would not divulge the ”intricacies” as he said both sides have agreed to provide details only once an agreement has been reached.
But Louwrens said the unions are asking for an increase of CPIX (5,4%) plus 8% for this year, plus 9% for 2005 and plus 10% for 2006.
”Government was not prepared to accept those offers,” Louwrens said.
The government is allegedly only prepared to offer CPIX and that each year’s increases will be individually negotiated.
The next stage is to call in conciliators who will try to bring both sides closer together, Louwrens said, warning that if this fails, strike action is an option.
Two smaller unions, Nupsaw and the Hospital Personnel and Staff Association, attempted on Friday to break away and revive negotiations by offering 7,5% but according to insiders, the government refused to bargain with the ”smaller unions”.
This move raised fears of a fragmenting front from the union collective.
But Mataitsane does not believe the move has damaged the united front and said it is ”just differing strategies”.
The unions represent approximately 700 000 public servants but the negotiations affect more than a million.
Talks are expected to resume on July 20, Mataitsane said. — Sapa