Yolande Nel
Thousands of public servants are expected to join a crippling national strike action that would see aggrieved government employees taking to the streets of Polokwane this morning (Thursday). Also in Limpopo the latest mass action is expected to hold dire consequences for the province, as it would be leaving a dent in service delivery.
In a statement the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) in Limpopo referred to the demands for a salary increase of 8,6% across the board, a housing allowance of R1 000 per month and the equalisation of medical aid contributors by the employer. The state is currently offering a salary increase of 6,5%, a monthly housing allowance of R750 and no equalisation of medical aid contributions. The PSA further stated that a memorandum containing their demands for salary and related increases would be handed to the Director General.
On its website PSA members are informed of schedules for buses departing from Thohoyandou, NkowaNkowa, Lebowakgomo, Mokopane, Modimolle, Giyani, Jane Furse and Bochum for officials on strike to join the mass action in Polokwane.
At the time of going to press PSA Provincial Manager Pieter Koen told Polokwane Observer that approximately 1 000 of its members were expected to participate in today’s protest action, which would be followed by a stay-away tomorrow (Friday). The situation would be monitored while employers have in the meantime indicated that they intended to table a new proposal this afternoon, he said.
The South African Police Union’s (Sapu) National Office addressed its members in an urgent report on the looming public service industrial action issued on Tuesday. In the note it stressed that industrial action was imminent.
The statement made reference to the last offer by government being rejected by all principals at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC). It further said the union also considered the outcome of a balloting process conducted across all provinces over a period of two weeks. "We can report that we have received an overwhelming response to embark on industrial action as our entire membership believes that the current offer is very far from the settlement range demanded by the unions."
Sapu added that they were "conscious of the fact that we are organising within the Essential Services environment, however, not all members are regarded as essential service workers." Sapu Provincial Spokesperson Solly Bulala said traffic officials and administrative personnel as well as off-duty Police officials had to join the protest action.
He told Polokwane Observer that an estimated 6 000 of the 10 000 Sapu members in Limpopo were expected to join today’s action in the provincial capital. The full strength of the contingents joining the Polokwane action was estimated at 90 000 people, he said. According to him a single memorandum would summarise the demands of all participating unions as they all supported the same cause.
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Provincial Secretary Dan Sebabi told Polokwane Observer that a rough estimate of 70 000 members belonging to the seven unions representing the public service sector were expected to go on strike in the economic hubs where they have the highest concentration of public service workers across the province. They would be meeting on Friday to assess the course of action, which could possibly include converging on the Premier’s Office in Polokwane in a separate action. "We are very positive that the parties have the capacity to find each other," he said and added that they called on government to up its offer to meet the demands.
