The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) fervently rejects the current wage offer tabled by the employer at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC).

Since the beginning of the 2022/23 salary negotiations, we have been fully participating in these negotiation processes, only to come to the conclusion that the employer is not willing to put a better offer on the table.

From the year 2020, workers have not received any increases, and the employer is currently offering a 3% increase on the baseline, subject to the introduction of measures to source funding in order to cover the percentage increases. Further, the employer is offering a non-pensionable gratuity which will end on the 31st of March 2023 (non-renewable), meaning it has been almost 7 months of wasted time at negotiations.

Clause 3.2 of this draft agreement is another form of government intention to retrench the already overworked and understaffed public service as it gives the government a loophole not only to fully honour the wage agreement as its funding is dependent on measures only known by government

We have come to this decision after lengthy negotiations, wherein we could not find each other.

As things stand, members within the Criminal Justice (CJC) are spending about 90% of their salaries on basic needs, while they do not qualify for RDP houses, and can not afford bonded houses. All these challenges they face while government has been refusing to implement the Government Employee Housing Scheme (GEHS).

As a union, we are of the view that what they have put on the table is an insult. Inflation is currently at 7,8%, having accelerated to an over 13-year high of 7.8% in July of 2022.

Our view is that the increase should be above inflation on the baseline, which will increase the notch and pensionable increase.

In the past 3 years, prices of goods and services have skyrocketed, and through released quantifications and surveys, it has become clear that workers are no longer able to cope, while the employer is busy coercing unions to sign. As a union, we have a mandate and responsibility to implement what our members mandated us, and will stick to this mandate.

A final draft of the agreement is being circulated, and is gunning for majority signatures so the employer can implement.

We will be holding a national march to the union buildings on the 20th of September 2022 to submit a memorandum to the Commander-In-Chief, President Cyril Ramaphosa over the many issues that the different departments have failed to address over the years, which have had a negative impact on the work of law enforcement officers.

Issued by POPCRU For more information contact:
Richard Mamabolo
Media & Communication Officer
HEAD OFFICE: SECRETARIAT:
Media & Communication
1 Marie Road, Richmond, Johannesburg, 2092
Phone 011 242 4600/15  Fax  086 625 3054
Cell 066 135 4349
Emailmamabolor@popcru.org.za