South African public servants are preparing to reject a government wage offer, raising the prospect of the first major strike by state workers in more than a decade.<\/p>\n
Preliminary results from a ballot of the Public Servants Association, the biggest government labor union, show workers won\u2019t accept the proposal to increase pay by 3% and continue receiving a cash gratuity until March, the PSA said Monday in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n
The government\u2019s current offer expires on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrent mandating outcomes indicate that votes are tilting toward rejecting the offer,\u201d the PSA said.<\/p>\n
Remuneration of the government\u2019s 1.3 million workers accounts for almost a third of total government expenditure, and keeping it in check is key to the National Treasury\u2019s plans to rein in the budget deficit and bring runaway state debt under control. The unions have argued that inflation-beating increases are warranted in light of soaring food and energy costs.<\/p>\n
The annual consumer inflation rate is currently 7.6%.<\/p>\n
Public servants in July lowered their demands for pay increases of as much as 10% to 6.5%, after the government rejected their earlier request on the grounds that it was unaffordable.<\/p>\n
Worker anger about the government\u2019s refusal to accede to their wage demands boiled over on Monday, when Minerals Resources and Energy minister Gwede Mantashe was prevented from addressing the Congress of South African Trade Unions\u2019s annual conference in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
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\n#CosatuNationalCongress2022<\/a> | Mantashe is boo\u2019d off stage and has had to be ushered out the venue.<\/p>\n
Delegates are blaming ANC for failing to address the labour, living and economic crises. @khanya_mntambo<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FBbnxCgKU6<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 26, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n