Public service unions planning mass protest against GEMS hike
Trade unions in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council are planning to protest against the Government Employees Medical Scheme’s recent monthly medical aid contribution increases.
GEMS has implemented a 9.8% increase, which will be revised to 9.5% in April.
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa president, Simon Hlungwani, says they will march to GEMS’ head office in Pretoria next week to demand the scrapping of the increase:
“Failing which, if GEMS is still very arrogant and not willing to listen to us, we'll have no choice but to review the resolution that gave rise to GEMS. Therefore, in the end, we'll then open up so that GEMS stop continuing to have the monopoly of the medical aids for public servants while they're dealing very hard with the public servants' livelihood.”
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Meanwhile, the National Teachers Union says repeated cost hikes are making medical aid cover increasingly unaffordable for educators and their families.
NATU says teachers received only a 5.5% salary increase in the 2025/26 financial year and are set to receive a 4% adjustment the next year.
The union says the increases are placing severe financial pressure on teachers who provide an essential service and are an attack on workers’ take-home pay.
NATU has joined the other unions in calling for meaningful consultation to address the impasse.
