Two teacher unions are unlikely to join other public sector workers planning to embark on industrial action following Monday’s deadlock in wage negotiations.
The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa) and the SA Teachers’ Union (Saou) confirmed they were mandated by their membership to accept the government’s offer of a 3% salary increase.
Striking now when we are on the cusp of the final exams is not a good idea
— Basil Manuel, executive director of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) have declared a dispute. A special council of the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council met to finalise salary negotiations.
Naptosa executive director Basil Manuel said they and “a few other unions” had a mandate to accept the offer backdated to April 1.
It also included the payment of a monthly cash allowance of R1,000 until March 31 next year.
He said most unions, however, rejected the government’s offer and the employer invoked a clause stating if there is no majority support at the council meeting, the draft resolution falls away.
“The other unions indicated they would declare a dispute with the intention to resolve the impasse which may lead to a strike if there is no resolution.”
Manuel said Naptosa was exploring “creative ways” to break the impasse. He said two surveys were conducted with members who rejected the intention to strike.
“Teachers are unwilling to strike because they have seen the impact of Covid-19 on pupils and the learning losses. Striking now when we are on the cusp of the final exams is not a good idea,” he said.
Saou CEO Chris Klopper said 82% of its membership were in favour of accepting the 3% wage offer.
Although our members were not satisfied with the offer, they realised the country’s economy was in dire straits
— Chris Klopper, SA Teachers’ Union CEO
“Although they were not satisfied, they realised the country’s economy was in dire straits.”
Saou has about 30,000 members in the public service.
“I can categorically state we will not consider labour action at this stage. We are recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and parents will find it virtually impossible to support us.”
Nomusa Cembi, spokesperson, for the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union, said they are “going to deliberate on the matter [of wage negotiations] at our national general council meeting sitting at Emperors Palace”.
Last Friday the Public Servants Association (PSA) said it was mandated by members to reject the government’s 3% salary increase.
“Members rejected the offer as it does not address realities such increased interest rates and steep increases in cost of living expenses. Such an increase will not have a real impact on public servants’ salaries, noting current economic conditions.”
It said uncertainty over the payment of the cash gratuity after March 31 next year “presents a huge challenge as employees face the possibility of losing R1,000 which they have been receiving for the past two years”.
The PSA said from the time “workers were robbed of their increase in 2020, they never recovered financially”.
“The situation was worsened by the employer’s failure to give the same workers real salary increases in 2021 and instead gave a cash gratuity, something unheard of in the history of public service salary negotiations.”
The PSA said employees of state-owned entities received salary increases of 5% and above, despite the poor performance of these entities.
“Government is treating its employees as second-grade employees when it comes to salary adjustments while being charitable to SOE employees.”
The PSA said it was considering its available options and while industrial action was a strong possibility, they remained hopeful the employer would consider realities “as most unions are likely to reject the tabled offer”.
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