PSA warns of nationwide shutdown as public service strike looms
The public servant’s association (PSA) has vowed to bring the streets of Pretoria to a standstill this week – as unions dig in their heels over wages.
Wage talks between worker representatives and government soured after the employer offered public servants a wage increase of 3%, while unions demanded a hike of between 6.5% and 10%.
PSA president, Dr Lufuno Mulaudzi will officially begin their first public service strike in over a decade, with a stay-away on Wednesday, and a full-blown strike set to follow next Thursday.
“It’s all systems go on Thursday. All our members from across the country will be coming to Pretoria where we will be handing over a memorandum to the office of the President.”
He’s accused government of arrogance and reneging on past deals while billions worth of corruption in state institutions is rife
“We have warned the government that if they continue to be arrogant, we will have no choice but to embark on industrial action which started since the 3rd of November. You could see that this government is not a government that is prepared to listen. In 2021 they reneged on resolution 1 of 2018. When they had to implement the last leg of that resolution they pleaded poverty, but every day where hear of state coffers being looted by various state officials.”
He also accuses President Cyril Ramaphosa of indecisiveness at the expense of workers, after failing to appoint a permanent replacement for former public service and administration minister Ayanda Dlodlo.
Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi is the acting minister for that department.
“He has been acting in that position for a very long time, and we don’t have stability in that very crucial department it poses a serious threat in collective bargaining.”
Mulaudzi says unity with other unions, such as those under the Cosatu mother body, will make disgruntled civil servants a formidable force.
The PSA president says they are only willing to return to the bargaining table should government make an ‘acceptable’ offer.
“At this point, there is nothing that will stop us from continuing what we want to do on Thursday,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union’s Lwazi Nkolonzi has confirmed that Cosatu’s joint mandating committee will hold a media briefing about the looming strike on Wednesday.
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