The trade unions organising in the Public Service Unions consisting of NEHAWU, NUPSAW, POPCRU, DENOSA, SAPU, PSA, HOSPERSA, SAMATU, PAWUSA and SAEPU who command the majority status in terms of the vote weights at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) will be convening mass picket demonstrations on Monday 31st October 2022 across the country.
The demonstrations come as a result of the collapsed public service wage negotiations. On Monday 31st October, there is conciliation hearing at the PSCBC on the dispute that we have declared. The decision of the Minister of Public Service and Administration together with his Finance counterpart to implement the offer rejected by workers overwhelmingly, doesn’t in anyway resolve the dispute hence we proceeding with the conciliation. As trade unions, we have joined hands to fight back the attitude and the neo-liberal policies of the employer that has introduced austerity measures which are directed at public servants and the working-class.
We strongly condemn the circular issued by the Department of Public Service and Administration on the Improvement in conditions of service for employees on salary level 1 to 12 and those covered by occupation specific dispensations (OSDs): Cost of Living Adjustment. This circular clearly demonstrate that the government has totally disregarded collective bargaining and has reduced the PSCBC into a non-entity. We reject the unilateral implementation and pushing down the throat of public service workers the 3% offer that majority of workers rejected.
This is a demonstration of disdain at the manner in which public servants are treated, and the continuation of the agenda to destroy collective bargaining in the public service. This is the same tendency we saw when the very employer chose to renege on implementing the last leg of PSCBC resolution 1 of 2018.
We call on the employer to respect the institutions of social dialogue and come to the PSCBC conciliation on the 31st October 2022 to resolve the current impasse. Equally, we condemn the utterance by the Minister of Finance whilst delivering the Medium Term Budget Speech that the offer of 3% to public servants is a favour. It is totally wrong and unacceptable for the Minister to discuss in parliament details of negotiations that happened in the bargaining council to an extent of misleading the public that there was a tentative agreement. We have resolved to rally our collective might to push the employer to better the rejected offer and will use everything in our power to register our disdain to the powers that be, including to the highest office in the land.
Lastly, we the trade unions organising in the Public Service consisting of NEHAWU, NUPSAW, POPCRU, DENOSA, SAPU, PSA, HOSPERSA, SAMATU, PAWUSA and SAEPU call on all our members to join the picket-lines on Monday 31st October 2022.
Details of the demonstrations are as follows:
PROVINCE- ACTIVITY AND AREA- DATE AND TIME
GAUTENG
Picket demonstrations at National Treasury in Pretoria -31st October from 12h00 to 14h00.
Gathering at the PSCBC offices in Centurion for the duration of the Conciliation -10:00 – 15:00.
EASTERN CAPE
Picket at the PSCBC offices in BISHO-31 October and 01 November 2022
12:00 – 14:00
FREE STATE
Picket at the Provincial Treasury Offices in Bloemfontein-31 October 2022 from 11h30 to 13h00
KWAZULU NATAL
Picket in Pietermaritzburg Central -31st October 2022
- Provincial legislature-11:00 – 14:00
Durban Central
- Addington Hospital-10:30 – 14:00
Durban South
- Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital-11:00 – 14:30
Carto – Manor
- iNkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital- 10:00 – 14:00
Stanger
- General Ginzeka Hospital- 11:00 – 13:30
uMzimkhulu
Esayidi TVET College-11:30 – 14:00
Empangeni
- Ngwelezani Tertiary Hospital- 11:00 – 13:30
Ladysmith
- Ladysmith Hospital- 11:00 – 14:00
Newcastle Hospital
Pongola
- Intshelejuba Hospital- 11:00 – 14:30
Nongoma
- Department of Transport-10:30 – 15:00
Kokstad
- Department of Education-10:30 – 15:00
LIMPOPO
Polokwane Local
- Picket in LSSC and Workplace based picket-01st November 2022
Mokopane
Convening of Local Shop Steward Council at Mokopane Multipurpose Centre (Mahwelereng)- 31 October 2022-11h00
Workplace based picket at Mokopane Magistrate Court-1 November 2022-13h00 – 14h00
Giyani
2. Local Shop Steward Council and Picket demonstration at Department of Education Training Hall-01 November 2022-10:00 – 14:00
Lepelle Nkumpi
3. Local Shop Steward Council-01 November 2022-11:00
4. Workplace based picket Limpopo Legislature-01st November 2022 at13:00
Tubatse
5. Local Shop Stewards Council-01 November 2022
6.Workplace Picket at Dilokong Hospital-01 November 2022-10:00
Thohoyandou
- LSSC and Workplace based picket-01 November
MPUMALANGA
Nkomazi local-31 October 2022
- Tonga hospital- 10:00 – 14:00
- Piet Retief hospital-10:00 – 14:30
BETHAL
- Bethal hospital- 10:00 – 13:00
- Correctional service- 10:00 – 14:00
Nelspruit
1. Legislature-11:00 – 15:00
2. Rob Ferreira hospital-12:00 – 14:00
BUSHBUCK RIDGE
3. Tintswalo hospital and Botlhabela education-11:00 – 14:00
WITBANK
4. Witbank hospital
5. Piet Korenhop hospital-10:00 – 14:00
ERMELO
- Batho Pele building
- Ermelo hospital
- Ermelo district education.
SAPS
1. Human Settlement
2. Home affairs
3. Department of labour
4. Correctional Service
NORTHERN CAPE
Pickets at strategic areas identified within the provinces, such areas will include Department of Health, Provincial Treasury, Office of the Premier. Hospitals-31 October 2022-11:00 – 14:00
NORTHWEST
March from Montshiwa stadium legislature – 28 OCTOBER 2022 from 09h00 to 13h00
WESTERN CAPE
GROOTE SCHUUR HOSPITAL
- Groote Schuur hospital drive in front of the hospital-12h00 to 14h00
RSA NATIONAL PARLIAMENT
- Plein street in front of parliament 11:00 – 14:30
KHAYELITSHA HOSPITAL
- Steve Biko road in front of Khayelitsha hospital-12h00 to 14h00
END
For information and comment, contact:
Simon Hlungwani, COSATU JMC Convener: 082 328 9635
Thabo Matsose, SAFTU Deputy President: 071 403 2777