• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Business

Unions angered by threat to public servant wage increase

27 February 2020, 11:01 AM  |
SABC SABC |  @SABCNews
Bheki Ntshalintshali says there is still an immense backlog in terms of payments and that needs to be rectified.

Bheki Ntshalintshali says there is still an immense backlog in terms of payments and that needs to be rectified.

Image: Twitter @CosatuGS

Bheki Ntshalintshali says there is still an immense backlog in terms of payments and that needs to be rectified.

Government’s decision to cut the wage bill of public servants by more R160 billion over the next three years has sparked an angry reaction from labour unions.

Unions have threatened to embark on protests action – saying government wants to renege on the terms of a public sector wage deal struck in 2018.

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali says government’s decision to renege on the wage increase deal for public servants is an attack to collective bargaining.

He say officials informed them on Tuesday that they could not afford to pay public servants wage increases that were meant to come into force in April 2020, for the final year of the three year deal.

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said measures to contain the wage bill had already been tabled at the Public Sector Co-ordinating Bargaining Council. Economists have long argued that government should take a tougher line with unions given the severe fiscal constraints.

In the video below, SABC Parliamentary reporter, Bulelani Phillip gives a breakdown of political parties’ reactions to the Wage Bill

Ratings agency Fitch says public sector wages account for around a third of consolidated government expenditure.

Ntshalintshali says government’s decision will affect workers’ morale and service delivery.

He says, “The question of the wage bill you must look at the benefits… It is wrong to talk to us rather than saying we are going to cut the perks and the people that have messed this economy are not the ordinary nurses and the police are people on top.”

South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says, “We’re told that government is already making moves to convene the public sector bargaining chamber in order to tell the workers that they must take a wage freeze. The current agreement they signed rejected by all unions except the Cosatu.”

“The move is now to impose a wage freeze and withdraw government from the commitment that it has already made and signed with the 52% of the public servants represented by Cosatu unions. If that is not a declaration of war, you tell me what that is.”

In the video below, Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says unions can’t negotiate in good faith when government signs an agreement and afterwards seek to run away from it.

Budget Allocations #BudgetSpeech2020 #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/vTC5QasMxZ

— SABC News Online (@SABCNewsOnline) February 26, 2020

Increase in alcohol duties (Sin Tax) #Budget2020 #BudgetSpeech2020 pic.twitter.com/7w6V6ztFcU

— SABC News Online (@SABCNewsOnline) February 26, 2020

Share article
Tags: Zwelinzima VaviFitchBheki NtshalintshaliCongress of South African Trade UnionsTito MboweniRatings AgencySaftuPublic Sector Co-ordinating Bargaining CouncilSouth African Federation of Trade UnionsWagesCosatu
Previous Post

Proposed Wage Bill cut an attack on workers: Cosatu

Next Post

Tshwane ANC, EFF walk out of council meeting

Related Posts

A 3D printed Google logo is placed on the Apple Macbook in this illustration taken April 12, 2020.

US lawsuit against Google could benefit Apple and others

26 January 2023, 10:06 PM
The commission alleges that Medmart Health and BabyBug, both companies which sell personal protective equipment (PPE), colluded to fix prices on face masks and divided the market by allocating customers in contravention of the Competition Act.

Two competing companies referred to Competition Tribunal for price fixing, collusion

26 January 2023, 9:29 PM
City of Tswane

AG’s report points to billions of irregular expenditure in City of Tshwane

26 January 2023, 8:12 PM
Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago

Economists express concerns about SA’s growth projections

26 January 2023, 7:49 PM
[File photo] The TotalEnergies logo sits on the company's headquarter skyscraper in the La Defense business district in Paris, France, March 24, 2022.

French prosecutor investigates greenwashing allegations against TotalEnergies

26 January 2023, 5:17 PM
SABC Television building in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

SABC labour unions urge President Ramaphosa to expedite appointment of new Board

26 January 2023, 5:01 PM
Next Post
The Tshwane council has collapsed after the ANC and EFF staged a walkout.

Tshwane ANC, EFF walk out of council meeting

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Remedial programme reinstated to fight Hyacinth plants at Hartbeespoort Dam
  • Northern Cape’s Kakamas to be exempted from blackouts
  • Zuma joins AmaZulu King in commemorating the Battle of Isandlwana
  • Scorcher predicted in Northern Cape for two weeks
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Babes Wodumo breaks her silence at Mampintsha’s funeral
  • VIDEO | Repo rate increases by 25 basis points to 7.25%
  • Joburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse voted out of office
  • Phalatse refuses to comment on DA’s sabotage allegations
  • Silent revolution in SA’s education sector: Ramaphosa
  • AG’s report points to billions of irregular expenditure in City of Tshwane

LATEST

Advocate Mojankunyane Gumbi  is currently the Chancellor of the University of Venda
  • World

Mojankunyane Gumbi named UN’s Special Adviser on Addressing Racism in Workplace


A 3D printed Google logo is placed on the Apple Macbook in this illustration taken April 12, 2020.
  • Business

US lawsuit against Google could benefit Apple and others


City of Johannesburg Council meeting
  • Politics

Joburg Council to elect new mayor on Friday


The commission alleges that Medmart Health and BabyBug, both companies which sell personal protective equipment (PPE), colluded to fix prices on face masks and divided the market by allocating customers in contravention of the Competition Act.
  • Business

Two competing companies referred to Competition Tribunal for price fixing, collusion


The CSIR works with government and industry to improve cybersecurity in the country
  • Sci-tech

Cyber fraud remains biggest barrier to online shopping


City of Tswane
  • Business

AG’s report points to billions of irregular expenditure in City of Tshwane


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Proposed Wage Bill cut an attack on workers: Cosatu
Next Tshwane ANC, EFF walk out of council meeting