The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) says it’s still waiting for labour unions to sign off the principal public sector wage agreement which was reached on Friday.
The unions were meant to sign at 11am on Monday but by 12:30 the unions had not budged.
Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ayanda Dlodlo, who was scheduled to share government’s position on the negotiations after the signatures, cancelled on the last minute.
Instead, DPSA Deputy-Director General Kenny Govender informed media that the principle agreement is still in place and government was working to collect signatures from unions.
“Yes the unions pitched up and they still confirmed the principal agreement. The employer signed the agreement, but in terms of the council procedures, the unions still have time to consider the agreement,” Govender said.
He added that they are in the process of seeking signatures from the labour unions. “We are hopeful we would have them all today,” he added.
The Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council concluded the wage negotiations for the public service, except for one union, the Public Servants Association (PSA) on Friday.
According to the agreement, the salary adjustment for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019, effective from 1 April 2018, for employees on salary levels 1-12 will be as follows:
- Salary Levels 1 to 7: 7%
- Salary Level 8 to 10: 6.5%; and
- Salary Level 11 to 12: 6%
The parties have agreed wages would increase by consumer price index (CPI) plus 1% to CPI for the successive two years.
The unions were demanding CPI plus 2% for the lowest levels and CPI plus 1% for the highest, while it set its CPI calculation at 5.5%.
The deal also comes with extra hikes for educators and police officials, who will benefit from the agreement to equalise pay progression across the public service at 1.5% per annum.
Furthermore, parties agreed to the delinking of the payment of the housing allowance of spouses.
The housing allowance for spouses of employees on salary level 1-5 will be delinked with effect from 1 September 2018; while the delinking of the housing allowance for spouses of employees on salary level 6-12 will be effective from 1 September 2019. - SAnews.gov.za
