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Cape Town - South Africa's main public service unions, which collectively represent around 1.3 million workers, have a common position in demanding a 15% salary hike from government, a senior union official said on Friday.
Workers also want a R3 000 rand monthly housing allowance and a 28% rise for medical aid contributions, he said.
Nehawu, the country's top public sector health worker union which is part of the alliance, had announced it wanted the same deal for its members on Wednesday.
Besides the Public Servants Association (PSA), the largest non-affiliated public service union with around 230 000 members, police union Popcru, teachers union Sadtu and Nehawu are represented in the bargaining council.
"All the major unions ... have a common position, demanding a 15% wage increase," Manie de Clercq, PSA's deputy general manager told Reuters on Friday.
Government is expected to respond to the opening wage demand next week, in what could be a lengthy negotiation process, likely to run until December, said De Clercq.
"No union wants to strike but this cannot be ruled out, it will depend on the flexibility of the parties negotiating," he said.
The longest mining strike in South Africa's history ended in June but has hobbled the economy and any industrial action in other sectors will be a concern for investors.
Last month outgoing central bank governor Gill Marcus warned that recent wage demands have not matched inflation and productivity and could hamper economic growth.
