PSA members to embark on national strike

Members of the Public Servants Association (PSA) in Limpopo intend joining a countrywide strike from Monday following the organisation’s announcement earlier that failed public sector wage negotiations left it no choice but to engage in industrial action.
According to PSA Provincial Liaison Officer, Lawrence Muvhango members are demanding wage increases of 12% for level one, 11% for level 8 to 10 employees and 10% for level 11 to 12 employees. “We tabled our demands as far back as October 2017 with the aim that we would see salary increases being implemented by 1 April but nothing happened. We staged pickets at various departments in May with the intention of making our concerns heard but there was no response from government. The wage dispute was declared at the Bargaining Council and we are going to strike because our demands for a 10% wage increase are not met,” Muvhango said.
He also revealed that their members will travel to Pretoria on Monday to join in a march to the Department of Public Service and Administration and hand over a memorandum of grievances to the Minister for Public Service and Administration, Ayanda Dlodlo.
The department issued a statement on Tuesday, reproving the intended strike action.
Dumusani Nkwamba, Spokesperson for the department said the minister, on behalf of Government and the Committee of Ministers, condemned the unilateral decision of the PSA to embark on strike action in violation of bargaining rules and processes. “The PSA, yesterday (Monday), served the department with a seven day notice to strike, disregarding standing protocol and procedure for a 21 day window to allow all public sector unions at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council to either accept or reject the offer.”
“According to public service bargaining protocols, this time frame has not lapsed and therefore the PSA has no legal standing to embark on an industrial action which is clearly in violation of the PSCBC rules and procedure.
“Furthermore, the department cautions employees that the PSA intended strike is not in line with the rules and that the principle of ‘no work, no pay’ will strictly be applied to employees who will partake in the strike. This includes the Government making zero contributions towards housing, medical aid, pension fund and all other allowances, for any employee not at work. The principle will apply for absence of a full day as well as part of a working day. In addition, leave will be strictly managed and no leave will be granted unless under extreme and compelling situations.”
Muvhango said despite the call from the department the strike will go ahead as planned. “Their claims are not true. We have a certificate from the bargaining council that shows that we are eligible to strike and we have followed all the procedures. All our members will be in Pretoria on Monday.”

Story & photo: Herbert Rachuene
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