Decision on government wage offer by Tuesday - Cosatu
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has further supported the public sector’s wage demand of 8,6%.
Nickolaus Bauer with Reuters
Published: 2010/08/13 09:10:13 AM
The Congress of South African Trade Unions said on Friday that a decision on government’s latest public sector wage offer will be made by Tuesday.
The South African government increased its offer to more than a million state workers in an effort to head off a mass strike, sources in the talks said on Thursday.
The government offered to increase the monthly housing allowance to R700 from R630, but kept its wage rise offer at 7%, the sources said. The unions are demanding an 8.6% pay rise and R1,000 for housing.
At the same time the labour federation reaffirmed their support for the public sector’s wage demand of 8,6%.
Patrick Craven - Cosatu spokesperson told Business Day that whilst union members will consider all offers, he maintained that the 8,6% demand for salaries is not a huge ask for the South African government.
“It (the increase) is no serious problem, the increase is the least of our worries,” Craven said.
Craven said the labour federation welcomed movement in wage talks after deadlocks were experienced earlier in the week, but added that union leadership will not take part in any decision made by workers.
“Its up to the members to decide if this is adequate - leadership will not influence their decision,” he said.
Among those threatening to walk off the job are customs and immigration officers, health workers, police and clerks.