Public-service unions on Sunday said there would be no wage deal with until at least Wednesday.
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha said unions needed more time to consult members on government’s final proposal.
The next labour caucus was scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday at the Public Service Coordination Bargaining Council (PSCBC) in Centurion.
In the meantime, unions would not meet with Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi unless she brought a new deal to the table.
Strike action, now in its fourth week, would continue, he added.
Madisha was speaking after union leaders met at the bargaining council on Sunday afternoon to consider their response to the government’s final wage offer.
The meeting, attended by most of the union leaders, including Madisha and Dave Balt, president of National Professional Teachers Union, started just before 4pm.
On Friday, the government tabled what it called its final wage proposal, which includes a 7,5% wage increase.
It also included increased in the housing and medical aids contributions from the employers as well as a proposal on new salary scales for certain professionals in the public service.
The government has given unions 21 days to respond to the offer.
Shortly after the tabling of the new offer, the unions said they were not ready to immediately sign the offer, but indicated that they would discuss it in the meeting on Sunday. – Sapa