The possibility of a public sector strike loomed on Monday as both the government and trade unions refused to move on pay negotiations.
With weeks to go before the matric exams, teachers and other public sector employees including police and nurses, threatened to go on strike if their salary demands were not met by Thursday.
The ultimatum followed failed negotiations on Friday that lasted well into the night.
On Saturday the Public Service and Administration Department countered by demanding that the eight unions in the public sector bargaining council accept their revised package offer of seven percent.
The four Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) unions on Monday were again in discussions to ”plan a way forward”.
”We are not negotiating whether or not to accept government’s offer — that we rejected on Friday. What we are trying to decide now, is how to move forward,” said Thulas Nxesi, general secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu).
Tension was audible in the voices of both camps and neither refused to budge on the ”final” offer.
On Friday Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said no more money was available with which to bargain.
”This is all we have,” she said.
The government tabled a six percent offer plus a one percent pay progression for workers who performed well.
The package also included R500-million for teachers to address the lack of pay progression from 1996 to 2003.
”This equates to another two percent for educators,” Fraser-Moleketi said, explaining this would be received in the form of back pay.
The package also included housing benefits, and made allowances for more policemen over the next three years.
Unions, who argue that there was very little difference to actual money in the pocket of their members, were accused of ”incremental bargaining” tactics.
”When we meet one set of demands they continually introduce a new set,” said Public Service Department spokesperson, Madoda Mxakwe. – Sapa