Public Servants' Association 'dissatisfied' with government

The Public Servants' Association has voiced anger over the government's lack of urgency in finalising a wage agreement with public servants.

"The employer clearly does not share the urgency with which the PSA seeks to resolve the dispute on behalf of its members," deputy general manager Manie de Clercq said in a statement on Friday.

"The lethargic manner in which the issues raised by labour are being dealt with is creating a lot of anger and dissatisfaction amongst members."

The PSA tabled its demands in 2010 because of the provisions of last year's wage agreement which stipulated commencement of the negotiation process immediately after the conclusion of the agreement.

On February 15 other unions followed suit with various demands of an annual general increase for public servants, and other substantive issues were consolidated.

They were later tabled at a special meeting of the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC).

De Clercq said unions had been participating with the government in a facilitation process for the 2011-12 financial year after an impasse was reached in May.

The facilitation process had ground to a halt without any progress in June, he said.

On Wednesday the government offered trade unions a 6% salary hike during negotiations.

The unions were demanding an 8% increase.

Dumisani Nkwamba, spokesman for Public Service Minister Richard Baloyi, said he could not comment on the wage negotiations as they were handled by the PSCBC.

"The ministry will not conduct negotiations in the media," he said.

PSCBC general secretary Frikkie De Bruin was not immediately available for comment.

The PSA called on the government to speed up negotiations.

De Clercq said a meeting had been set with the PSCBC for August 12.

"This suggests that the employer is not serious about reaching an agreement as a matter of urgency," he said.