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Cape Town - The manner in which the South African government has handled itself during wage negotiations has been reckless and arrogant, several Cosatu-affiliated unions said on Wednesday.
Seven unions representing those working in the public service told reporters in Johannesburg that wage negotiations with government had reached a deadlock.
"The long and protracted wage negotiations have reached a deadlock with the employer declaring a dispute last week after wasting five months [of negotiations]," Nehawu's general secretary Bereng Soke told reporters.
READ: Rand weakens as public sector strike looms
This meant that an independent facilitator would have to be brought in to to help both parties reach an agreement.
The unions involved were the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu), Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), Democratic Organisation of South Africa (Denosa), South African Medical Association (Sama), South African State and Allied Workers Union (Sasawu) and the Public and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Pawusa) said.
State being provocative
All seven unions said on Wednesday 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.
Soke accused government of not taking negotiations seriously and not respecting agreed time frames.
Government was offering a 5.8% salary increase and a housing allowance of R1 100, which was R200 more than employees were currently getting.
READ: Public sector wages showdown: this time it’s got to be different
During negotiations, unions reduced their housing allowance demand to R1 500, Soke said.
The State agreed to paying R1 500, but only to employees who already had house bonds or loans on a primary residence, he said.
"It is important to note that this was after the workers had reduced their wage demands by five percent."
He said the state was being provocative and showed no signs of concluding the negotiations amicably.
Government declared a dispute on March 28.
In terms of the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), which has been involved in the negotiations, such a dispute must be consolidated within 30 days.
Soke said this move by the employer could spark possible mass action. They would be meeting with their union members to decide on a way forward.
"This has made it clear for us that we might have to mobilise the workers for a possible mass action in the public service."
Soke said the unions were aware of the impact strikes had on the public and on service delivery.
"We know this because we a part of the working class. Our kids go to public schools and our families use public facilities.
"But we also know that we lose the rights we do not defend," Soke said.
He said increases in food, medical costs, housing, electricity and petrol prices were factors in their demands.
