Eight Public Service Unions * Joint Media Statement, 11 July 2012*
*COSATU Public Service Unions Statement*Public Service wage negotiations reached a stalemate yesterday after the employer reneged on their latest offer of 6.9%. The employer had presented the 6.9 % cost of living adjustment in a meeting with labour on the 4th of July 2012. It was then expected that labour would thereafter consult with their members in order to get a mandate on this latest offer and would revert back to the council after consultations.
However, the employer requested a meeting with labour representatives yesterday, the 10th of July. To our surprise, instead of negotiating further from our point of departure as of the last meeting, the employer then reverted back to their 6.7% offer. COSATU-affiliated labour unions in the PSCBC, representing over 58% of the country's public service workers are of the view that the employer is negotiating in bad faith and is not interested in settling this current round of negotiations amicably.
The employer's attitude in yesterday's meeting further vindicates labour's view that government is arrogant, misleading, dishonest, deceitful and is taking workers for granted. This is also contrary to what they've been communicating to the public through their spokesperson, who also went on record to say they had improved their offer to 6.9%. This is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public in an attempt to pit them against the public service workers.
COSATU-affiliated unions have been consistent in their commitment to find a peaceful settlement during this round of negotiations since their commencement 5 months ago on the 16th of February 2012. Labour has reviewed its initial demands several times, as a clear demonstration of negotiating in good faith. However this action failed to attract a similar commitment from the employer. We believe that this is a delaying tactic applied by the state.
This has further infuriated members belonging to the COSATU-affiliated unions; (SADTU, NEHAWU, POPCRU, DENOSA, PAWUSA, SAMA, SADNU and SASAWU.)
We would like to state categorically that our patience as COSATU-affiliated unions has been tested to the limit. The employer has therefore left us with no option but to declare a dispute today.
*_For more information contact_: Chief Negotiator: COSATU affiliated Public Service Unions Mugwena Maluleke, 082 783 2968 * -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
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