The Police and Prisons’ Civil Rights Union (Popcru) says it has been left with no choice but to take strike action following the South African government’s offer of a 6% wage hike — as opposed to its demand of a 12% hike.
In a statement on Friday, Popcru spokesperson Pat Ntsobi said: “Popcru stands firm on the demand of 12% by public servants. Our argument is that police, [prison] warders and traffic officials are overworked but underpaid.
“It is regrettable that we have to embark on an industrial action whilst this could have been avoided. We do not think the government appreciates the contribution of the workers in the public service.”
He added that conditions of service have been scaled down over the past three years, including a reduction in the medical-aid benefit, a reduction in the housing allowance, the taking away of transport for police and warders, as well as a drastic increase in rental on state housing.
“As we have maintained throughout, a strike is a last resort. But we have been left with no alternative.”
Ntsobi said: “We have started to mobilise our members.”
Ntsobi noted that on May 19 and 20, Popcru had called a national executive committee meeting to decide on its final course of action. — I-Net Bridge