Anastasi Mokgobu
The Public Servants Association is preparing for what it says will be a "total shutdown" in just over a week's time.
This comes after the government invoked Section 5 of the Public Service Act, which allows it to enforce salary increases unilaterally.
PSA spokesperson Reuben Maleka said they filed a notice to strike on Monday, after exhausting all options to resolve the wage negotiation impasse.
“Effectively, the PSA's members will have the right to strike seven days after filing the notice,” he said.
Maleka said the strike could not be avoided as, despite all attempts by the PSA together with other unions to demonstrate a willingness to negotiate, the employer failed to cooperate.
He said the commitment of public servants to service delivery, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, was "rewarded" with the tabling of a 0%-salary increase offer.
Maleka said PSA members also rejected a subsequent 3% salary adjustment as it did not meet expectations owing to steep price increases in the prices of basic necessities such as petrol, food, and electricity as well as interest rates increases.
“The situation was worsened by the government's failure to afford workers a real salary increase for three successive years, resulting in stagnant salaries,” he said.
