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Government's position with regards to labour's rejection of the revised salary offer
18 Aug 2010 Government met labour yesterday at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) as part of our efforts to bring closure to the 2010/11 wage round. It is at this sitting that labour yet again rejected a revised wage offer by the employer and consequently announced their intention to embark on an indefinite strike. Having outlined service delivery priorities of the state that would have to be compromised and having cited various reasons why the demands can not be met during our numerous talks with labour, the rejection of the revised offer by labour has been noted with great concern. Voicing our concern on the matter we question how a responsible leadership can advocate for an indefinite strike action knowing why the demand cannot be met in this financial year, knowing the impact such action would have on the delivery of services to all the citizens of the Republic, knowing the adverse effects it would have to the very members whose interests they represent. During our ongoing deliberations with labour we have repeatedly called for reason and accountability. Our engagement with the leadership of the unions has to date been characterised by commitment, transparency and accountability on the part of the employer. The employer has prioritised the negotiations with a determination to bring closure to this round of negotiations to ensure labour harmony with a view to avert disruptions to service delivery as a key obligation of the state. The revised offer presented by government to the unions has had to ensure that its socio-economic priorities are not completely compromised. While the principle of granting wage adjustments based on inflation plus a moderate real wage is the ideal, it is posited that this should not pose any serious knock-on inflationary effects and will be dependent on the affordability of the State. As the employer we have tabled our final mandate drawn from serious efforts to manage the situation to ensure it is in the best interest of all South Africans. It is in this interest to protect all South Africans I will sign the final wage offer. For more information contact:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Cell: 082 885 9448
Tel: 012 336 1704 Lebohang Mafokosi
Cell: 082 312 4641
Tel: 012 336 1017
Issued by: Department of Public Service and Administration
18 Aug 2010
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