Unions will continue to plan strikes despite the government considering the wage negotiations as concluded for 2022\/23 – with the next planned strike action happening as soon as Friday (9 December) at the parliament buildings in Cape Town.<\/p>\n
The Public Servants Association (PSA) said that unions had been forced to intensify their industrial action after communication between workers and the government broke down completely.<\/p>\n
Several unions, including the PSA, Cosatu, and Nehawu, commenced multiple strikes in a bid to force the government to give in to their demands of a double-digit wage increase \u2013 with the first taking place in October, followed by another two on 10 and 22 November 2022.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for the unions, these strikes did nothing to improve the government’s offer, which remained at a unilateral wage increase of 3% and continued R1,000 cash gratuity until March 2023.<\/p>\n
According to the PSA, as far as the government is concerned, the 2022\/23 salary negotiations are concluded, and they have encouraged unions to table new demands to commence negotiations for 2023\/24.<\/p>\n
This sentiment has outraged the unions, with the PSA announcing that unions will not proceed with negotiations for 2023\/24 until the 2022\/23 impasse is resolved. Until then, unions will continue to intensify the pressure on the government to highlight these workers\u2019 plight \u2013 targeting service departments for continued strike action.<\/p>\n
The current plans for strike action are listed below, as outlined by the PSA:<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic servants\u2019 anger has reached an uncontrollable level, and they are prepared for indefinite strike action. Workers are prepared to fight fire with fire and bring the country to a standstill,\u201d said the PSA.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PSA cautions the government to heed this warning as public servants have reached the end of their patience with government,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
Government\u2019s contingency plan <\/strong><\/p>\n In a parliamentary Q&A, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) said it has developed a detailed strike management plan to mitigate any disruptions from the strikes.<\/p>\n \u201cMeasures to mitigate the strike’s impact have been put in place. Picketing rules have been concluded with organised labour, and the procedural requirements for a protected picket and strike have been outlined,\u201d said acting minister of public service and administration Thulas Nxesi.<\/p>\n These measures, as outlined by the minister, include the establishment of strike management committees across all the departments.<\/p>\n \u201cThe provincial departments will be coordinated from the offices of the premiers. Reports pertaining to the strike will be collated daily and be sent to the co-ordinating structure and then to the DPSA,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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