PSA set to strike as public service wage talks deadlock

Cape Town – The Public Service Association (PSA) announced on Monday that it would embark on a strike next week after public sector wage negotiations failed to broker a mutually desirable agreement.

This comes after the union spurned the offer government made in May. Negotiations had been rocky at the Public Sector Coordinating Bargaining Council as far back as April.

In a letter to the office of the director general, general manager of the PSA Ivan Fredericks said the union indicated that its attempts at resolving disputes with employers failed on May 14 2018.

“Therefore, please take note that a seven-day notice is hereby served in terms of section 64 of the Labour Relations Act as amended for the PSA to commence with strike action,” Fredericks said.

Fredericks said strike action would commence from June 11 2018. He said the PSA is, however, prepared to resolve remaining disputes through negotiations to avert strike action.

The union is said to represent about 238 000 employees in the public service.