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PHUTI MOSOMANE
THE South African Democratic Teachers’ Union, together with the unions affiliated to the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) including NAPTOSA, PSA, HOSPERSA and SAOU, are considering government’s offer of 7.5% wage offer.
The unions represent 53,9% majority in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC).
The unions said that the employer presented the final offer as follows:
1. An average of 7,5% for year 1 (Translation of the current non-pensionable cash gratuity into a pensionable salary). The 7,5% is implemented in a sliding scale where the lower salary levels would receive a larger percentage to close the wage gap. For an example at salary level the percentage would be 14,8% pensionable increase or what is known as baseline. The increase would apply to salary levels 1 – 12 including those remunerated in terms of an Occupation Specific Dispensation.
2. The difference between the demands on COLA and the final offer is 0,5%. As part of good faith negotiations labour had to revise its demand from 10% to 8% (7,5% employer and 8% labour) hence unions are subjecting the offer to members to decide.
3.The current cash gratuity translated into a pensionable increase was also cushioned by adding its tax as part of
pensionable increase.
4. If the cash gratuity of R1000 plus tax portion was removed as “claimed by those who seek disunity and dominance, the level 1 basic salary would be increase by 7,5% per annum to R22397,62. This would translate into R1562,62 per annum.” However, through tough negotiations, the employer acceded to 14,8% increase for salary level 1 which translated into R1539 per month.
5. In year two, which is the financial year 2024/2025, the employer has proposed to pay workers a pensionable increase set at CPI (Projected CPI for the relevant period will be deemed to be 4.5% and, in the event, the Projected CPI for the relevant period is above 6.5%, the Projected CPI will then be deemed to be 6.5%.
6. On housing allowance: the employer referred organised labour to a prior agreement that a CPI benchmarked increase would be effected yearly, hereafter referred to as the status quo.
But NEHAWU, POPCRU, DENOSA and SAPU did not to participate in the negotiations for the year 2023/2024.
Among others, NEHAWU and other public sector unions have committed to abandon the strike, return to council, and accepted the no work no pay rule.
“It is deeply concerning that unions in the public sector seem to be at odds with each other,” the majority unions at council said.
The unions urged members to engage in the mandate seeking process in their numbers so that negotiators “can secure what we have gained so far and more.”
The pay progression of 1,5% shall be paid with effect from the 1st of July 2023 in accordance with sectoral collective
agreements.
This will further improve the notch by 1,5% for all those who shall have qualified.
Unions said the reinstatement of the pay progression was an achievement.
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