South African public service unions on Thursday called for a massive national strike next week in protest against the unilateral implementation of a 3% baseline increase in public wages, reported The Africa News. The announcement was made on Thursday at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) headquarters.
Trade unions representing more than 800 000 public sector employees have announced demonstrations outside hospitals, at ports, and at government buildings on Tuesday. They will march to the National Treasury offices in Pretoria, and protest action in all the provinces.
“Faced with the rapid increase in the cost of living, the government wants civil servants to settle for increases that are lower than inflation. This cannot continue,” the unions said in a joint statement, demanding a 10% increase.
Earlier this month, South African Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi had promised a 3% baseline increase. The government’s decision to implement the increase forced the Public Servants’ Association (PSA) to go on a one-day public service strike last Thursday.
The protesting public servants are demanding a better wage offer and ending job cuts in the public service. They described the government’s 3% increase offer as “derisory”. The government has previously said that no-work, no-pay would apply at public service offices.
Along with the PSA, other unions that have joined the strike include the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), the SA Policing Union (Sapu), the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru), the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw), the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa), and the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa).
The South African economy has recently been hit hard by rail and port service strikes, which have affected the country’s exports. In September, the inflation rate was 7.5%, down from a peak of 7.8% in July.
