PSA will continue to picket until they receive an increase
Wage negotiations collapsed after the government reaffirmed its plans to unilaterally implement the 3% increase while public sector unions demand more.
LIMPOPO – The workers union, Public Servants Association (PSA) in Limpopo vowed to continue with lunchtime pickets until government agrees to a wage increase that runs across the board for employees.
They joined countrywide demonstrations at some provincial state-owned institutions with an outcry of disrespect from the employer, who reportedly increased salaries of political office bearers by 3% while those who are not only received a 1.5% increase at the time.
“They will also receive the 3% extra for the two years that we all worked without any increases,” says provincial manager John Teffo.
Wage negotiations collapsed after the government reaffirmed its plans to unilaterally implement the 3% increase while public sector unions are demanding an increase of between 5% and 10%.
“From November 8, the association requested the public to avoid seeking government services at their provincial offices as workers would not be available to assist. The workers have been used as scapegoats for the uncontrollable level of looting and corruption that is orchestrated by the same politicians who think that public servants deserve a mere 3%. Unions are demanding a salary increase of 10% as they last received a real increase in 2019 and their pensions stagnated since 2019. Posts are not being filled, resulting in all departments working with skeleton staff, denying members of the public professional service that they deserve,” their statement read.
“Instead of reconsidering the offer after it was rejected by the majority of the unions, the same employer opted to unilaterally implement the same offer spectacularly withdrawing the same. Worst of all, the finance minister tells the nation he made public servants favour by offering the workers 3% salary increase,” Teffo remarked.
They targeted 18 government institutions in Limpopo including the Office of the Premier, Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, as well as the Labour Centre, among others.
Limpopo Government Spokesperson Ndavhe Ramakuela said they have been notified about the demonstrations and will escalate grievances to the relevant government offices.
“People are eligible to picket as per their constitutional rights and administrative procedures like the ‘no work, no pay’ rule will apply. Also, there is a register being kept to refer about who is showing up for work and who is not for when it is needed,” he said.
