In a shift from their original bargaining position, public-service unions are set to table a new demand on Friday for a 10% pay increase, in a bid to end the week-long public-service strike, union sources have told the Mail & Guardian.
The unions will also propose the appointment of a facilitator to help break the wage impasse.
One union source suggested that the strategy would be to table 10% and go no lower than 8%. However, the M&G understands that the teachers’ union, Sadtu, remains adamant that the unions should not drop below 10%.
Labour is also expected to agree to government proposals for an “occupation-specific dispensation” which will reward certain skill categories. It initially resisted the proposal.
However, its demands on housing and medical aid will stand.
The continuing gulf between the two sides on pay suggests that there will be no immediate settlement of the long-running dispute, raising the prospect of rising strike violence. Cosatu is planning a total shutdown of the public service on June 8.
On Thursday a task team comprising representatives of both Cosatu and non-Cosatu unions was finalising a draft counter-proposal.
Since negotiations started the state has raised its opening offer on two occasions, from 5,3% to 6% and then, this week, to 6,5%.
However, labour’s new stance is unlikely to bring a quick settlement. Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said this week that the government’s revised package — at least 3% lower than the unions’ revised demand — would add R4,4-billion to the R9,3-billion.
“We cannot move to a situation where the wage bill represents 20% of GDP. Public-service workers’ costs amounted to 8,2% of GDP before the offered increase,” Fraser-Moleketi said.
Chief government negotiator Kenny Govender was reluctant to comment on whether, and by how much, the state was willing to move. “It is difficult to comment on [labour’s revised position]. I can’t tell you if government will be willing to increase its offer. We tabled the 6,5% this week as part of a package. We have not had anything further from labour,” said Govender.
And in a threat that is likely to further enrage unionists Govender said the government was considering taking public-service unions to court for violating the interdict against strikes by essential service workers.
A further extension of the strike is likely to fuel the violence and intimidation, which have already marred union action. The past week has seen a marked increase in levels of violence; police said on Thursday that they were patrolling 20 schools in Gauteng where principals had reported receiving threats.
Govender revealed that the government had started disciplinary action against employees who were “engaged in criminality” and had referred such cases to the police.
Cosatu has called for a total shutdown of the public service on Friday, heightening fears that workers in essential services will be forced to join the strike despite a court interdict barring them from doing so. Also fuelling the volatile climate have been threats by affiliates not involved in the public service, including the NUM, the metalworkers union Numsa and Cosatu’s militant municipal union, Samwu, that they will join Friday’s action in sympathy with public servants.
Draft plan to keep services ticking over
Unions anxious to avoid potentially damaging court action will present to the government on Friday a draft deal on the minimum staff levels needed to keep essential public services — such as medical, paramedic and emergency healthcare — up and running.
On Sunday Fraser-Moleketi threatened to fire striking workers in essential services if they ignored a return-to-work ultimatum. This followed the government’s successful application on May 31 for an interdict against essential service strikes.
Satawu leaders said at the time that the heavy penalty would hamper future strike action.
The Labour Relations Act bars workers in essential services from striking, but provides for an essential services committee to ratify an agreement on minimum essential services during industrial action.
Cosatu last week drew up an agreement on minimum service with its lawyers. It will be tabled at the bargaining council this week, said nursing union Denosa’s chief negotiator, Jabu Magagula.
The interdict prevents Cosatu and its affiliates, health and education workers’ unions Nehawu and Denosa, from “promoting, encouraging or supporting participation in the strike by employees engaged in the essential services” and bars members of those unions in essential services from striking.
Fraser-Moleketi issued a statement “commending the responsibility” of the Public Service Association and health workers’ union Hospersa for their pledge that essential workers would not strike.
The ultimatum stated that all employees performing essential services had to report to work for their shifts. Those who failed to report to work within two hours of the ultimatum would be dismissed.
Magagula said that if the unions breached the order the government might sue for damages including the cost of moving patients to private hospitals, where beds cost up to R8Â 000 a night.
“Our position is that essential service workers should continue working, they should not contravene the law,” he said.
Police said 12 strikers arrested on Monday for trying to force nurses out of a Durban hospital would be charged with violating the interdict.