HOSPERSA REJECTS PUBLIC SERVICE WAGE OFFER

Hospersa has rejected Government’s final wage increase offer for public service employees. The Union consulted its provincial structures after Government’s final offer was tabled at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) on 18 May 2018. The Union calls on Government to put to the table a fair offer that will speak to challenges faced by public service employees in a tough economy with the recent Value Added Tax (VAT) increase.

The wage negotiations for public service employees at the PSCBC reached a climax last week Friday when government, the employer in the Public Sector, tabled its final offer. The offer tabled is as follows:

Salary Increase:

1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019

Salary level 1 to 7 = 7% increase;

Salary level 8 to 10 = 6,5% increase; and

Salary level 11 to 12 = 6% increase.

1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020

Salary level 1 to 7 = Projected Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1%

Salary level 8 to 10 = Projected CPI plus 0,5%

Salary level 11 to 12 = Projected CPI

1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

Salary level 1 to 7 = Projected Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1%

Salary level 8 to 10 = Projected CPI plus 0,5%

Salary level 11 to 12 = Projected CPI

Hospersa submitted this offer to its members to seek mandates and this morning all provincial structures rejected the offer. The Union will now refuse to sign the offer today as mandated by its members.

“Hospersa is a worker-led trade union and our members have rejected the offer,” said Hospersa Public Relations Officer Kevin Halama. “Our members have cited that the current offer is too low and does not address the economical challenges faced by public service employees. The recent VAT increase has also been blamed for the rising cost of living whereby our members have felt the pinch in their spending power,” said Halama.

“It is also worth noting that the VAT increase was partly due to poor management and corruption at State-Owned Enterprises (SOE’s) whereby Government is frequently called upon to issue bail-outs amounting to billions of rands,” said Halama. “It is hypocritical for Government to now plead poverty when public service employees demand an improved offer while billions of rands get wasted due to mismanagement and corruption,” added Halama.

“We urge other Unions who were part of the negotiations at the PSCBC to reject the proposed offer and unite in ensuring that the interests of public service employees are put first by renegotiating for an improved offer,” concluded Halama.