Public sector wage talks have
taken an optimistic direction with unions optimistic that government will move
from its previous offer of zero percent increase last year.
This follows an intense week of
negotiations between the government and independent mediators for a demand of a
7% hike, including other conditions of service adjustments following a year
without an increase for the public sector employees.
According to a representative of
all the unions under the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU),
Mungwena Maluleka, the government has agreed to table a new offer following an
about-turn on a 0% wage hike citing fiscal constraints due to COVID-19 related
expenditure.
“Labour united is waiting at the
bargaining chamber in anticipation of the tabling of the revised offer by the
employer, we remain optimistic that the employer will be able to table a
revised offer this evening as per request of the facilitators,” Maluleka
said.
He further stated that talk of a
revision from the state can lead to an amicable resolution of the impasse.
