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Johannesburg - The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) has warned that if the wage offer made to public servants is not revised, it could lead to a shutdown of government.
"Whilst the conciliation process is under way at the moment... we are currently rolling out an extensive consultation process with our members in their workplaces, with our constitutional structures about the public service bargaining process," general secretary Bereng Soke told reporters in Johannesburg.
"At this stage, we can only warn the employer that unless it significantly revises its offer and cease divisive tactics, it is bound to be met by unprecedented rage from our members that might lead to a total shutdown of government soon."
Nehawu has accused it of negotiating in bad faith.
However, Soke said the union was not pre-empting a strike and would wait for a mandate from its members.
Unnecessary arrogance
Seven unions are involved in the public wage negotiations.
They are: Nehawu, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), the National Education, Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), the Democratic Organisation of SA (Denosa), the South African Medical Association (Sama), the South African State and Allied Workers Union (Sasawu) and the Public and Allied Workers Union of SA (Pawusa).
Earlier this month Fin24 reported all seven said they had demanded a 15% salary increase at the beginning of negotiations in September last year. They also demanded a R3 000 housing allowance and a 28% increase for medical aid costs.
Government was offering a 5.8% salary increase and a housing allowance of R1 100, which was R200 more than employees were currently getting.
During negotiations, unions reduced their housing allowance demand to R1 500.
On Tuesday, Soke said government was displaying unnecessary arrogance which could be seen as a provocation to Nehawu members.
"It is unfortunate that the employer appears not to have learnt any lessons from the protracted 2007 and 2010 strikes," he said.
