The government had by Monday afternoon made no new offer at a special bargaining council meeting with public-sector unions called to discuss the current wage dispute.
Some union negotiators, who did not want to be identified because negotiations were ongoing, told the South African Press Association there was ”no new offer on the table” and that it was likely that strike action planned for June 1 would proceed.
The government requested Monday’s meeting at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council in Centurion to discuss the impasse, but it almost collapsed before it started when government said it would refer its dispute with essential-service workers to arbitration.
”We don’t want any arbitration. If there is to be, in terms of the regulations, forced arbitration it must be something that has to be agreed to by all parties, so even that issue is becoming an obstacle for the real negotiations,” said South African Democratic Teachers’ Union general secretary Thulas Nxesi.
After several hours the unions did start negotiations with the government at about 3.30pm but Nxesi would not say whether a new offer had been made.
”The negotiations have just begun. We are here to listen to what there offer is — if there is anything that we can take back to our members, we would take this back, but we don’t know what it is,” he said.
Lewis Rabkin, spokesperson for the Public Service and Administration Department, would also not be drawn on whether government had upped its 6% offer.
Talks were continuing with various parties asking for time for breakaway caucuses.
Previous talks in the bargaining council failed, with the government’s offer fixed at a 6% wage increase while the unions’ demand is 12%.
Doubtful
Earlier it was reported that Congress of South African Trade Unions-affiliated unions, however, were doubtful that an agreement would be reached.
Chief labour negotiator Shireen Pardesi said it was ”very unlikely that we will reach any settlement”.
However, the government’s chief negotiator, Kenny Govender, was optimistic about the meeting.
”We have said the only way to a solution is to sit around the table and collectively thrash out the issues. I doubt there will be a resolution on Monday.” he said.
Fikile Majola of the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union indicated that the planned strike was imminent if the government did not improve its offer.
”From our side, there’s no change of plan. We will continue from Monday with the demonstrations we have planned, the work-to-rule and go-slows,” Majola said.
Majola said that the go-slows were protected by law. He said if the government came up with an improved offer, negotiations would continue.
”But if there is no improved offer, we will ask our negotiators to go back to their unions,” he said.
Last Friday, tens of thousands of unionists marched in major centres countrywide to demand better pay for public servants. The protest was a prelude to the first united national public-service strike, set for June 1 — Sapa