Johannesburg - Public sector pay talks are on hold while
the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) seeks a mandate on the government's latest offer, the public service
ministry said on Wednesday.
"Cosatu has asked for two weeks to consult,"
ministerial spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya said.
He confirmed the government had upped its latest offer to a
general salary increase of 6.7%, from 6.5% for the 2012/2013 financial year.
The most recent round of wage negotiations began on Monday
evening and finished on Tuesday around 03:30.
"We were ready to come back to the negotiating table
this morning (Wednesday), but Cosatu said they need to seek a mandate."
While there had been "some progress," the
Independent Labour Caucus (ILC), which represents 11 unions, was not satisfied
with the latest offer, its spokesperson Chris Kloppers said.
He said the caucus
had lowered its demand from 8% to 7.5%.
Mabaya said the government was negotiating in good faith.
"We are not saying it is 6.7% and anyone who doesn't
like it must go home. We are considering the competing demands on this country.
We have to work with what we have."
Newly-appointed Public Service and Administration Minister
Lindiwe Sisulu has previously indicated the government's offer to unions was
already billions of rand over what it had budgeted.
On Wednesday, Mabaya said the government would resume talks
as soon as Cosatu was ready.
"Anytime, we are ready.... We are on stand-by 24 hours
a day."
Kloppers earlier said talks were on hold because state
negotiators were out of the country.
"This week, the state's chief negotiators have gone on
an overseas trip to Canada," he said. They were expected back on July 11.
Mabaya said it was a study trip for people representing all
parties involved in the public sector bargaining council, including ILC
negotiators.
"They cannot say they are waiting for Canada. They are
waiting for Cosatu."
Mabaya said the government wanted to resolve pay talks so it
could focus on eradicating inefficiency in the sector.
"They do miracles and we reward them well."
The talks deadlocked in May, but Sisulu tried to revive them
in June. The new talks deadlocked mid-month when the ILC declared a wage
dispute.