Public sector strike imminent

GAUTENG – The Congress of South African Trade Unions’ (COSATU) joint mandating committee (JMC) announced public service unions have declared a dispute after wage negotiations with the State collapsed yet again. COSATU unions, including the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU), National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) and more, account for the majority of the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC).

The majority of the unions in the PSCBC rejected the government’s last wage offer and the employer later withdrew the 3% offer. JMC Convener, Simon Hlungwani, said workers have decided to revert to their initial demand of a 10% increase across-the-board after the withdrawal and have invoked the PSCBC dispute resolution mechanism.

With the dispute declared, a conciliation date has been set for 31 October and 1 November 2022 at the PSCBC offices.

COSATU said the Federation will rally its collective might to push the employer to make a better offer than the one rejected. “We will show our anger through many activities and campaigns over this period commencing with a mass picket demonstrations across provinces,” Hlungwani said.