Thousands of South Africa’s public servants will stage a nationwide strike next week following the rejection of a government wage offer of 7.5% made to them on Friday, the workers’ trade union federations have said.
The latest government offer follows an announcement of a national shutdown by trade union federations Cosatu, Saftu and Fedusa next week.
The unions, representing the majority of the workers, noted that this was the same offer government had put forward since the beginning of negotiations weeks ago but none of the trade union federations have accepted it.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Public Service and Administration said the offer comprised 3% pensionable and 4.5% non-pensionable funds at a cost of an extra US$1.72 billion to government.
Cosatu said that the government’s final wage offer of 7.5% was misleading, adding that they would continue to reject its proposed 3% wage increase.
The unions collectively addressed a media briefing on Thursday – where they called on all government employees and essential workers to participate in the planned picketing near their offices.
“And for this reason, we have said we will be engaging in mass protest in the form of lunchtime pickets leading up to the National Day of Action – which will be taking place in the next week on 22 November,” Richard Mamabolo of Cosatu said.
NM/as/APA