Unions express relief following the sealing of the public sector wage deal

Teachers Union, Sadtu, has expressed relief after the Public Servants Association (PSA) signed the draft public sector wage agreement, which includes a 1.5% wage increase.

The signing of the deal brought to an end marathon negotiations between government representatives and unions.

The agreement will also give civil servants a cash monthly gratuity of up to R1 695. The 1.5% wage increase will be back-dated to the beginning of this month.

Sadtu’s general-secretary, Mugwena Maluleke, says: “We want to indicate that is has been a very difficult situation under difficult circumstances. It is the first time that we had to reach an agreement which does not offer other increases except the 1.5%. However, it is a relief to the workers as they did not get their increases in 2020.”

FEDUSA-affiliated public sector unions have also expressed relief at the sealing of the deal following gruelling talks.

The Minister of Public Service Administration, Senzo Mchunu, has praised the leaders of the unions that have come on board, saying they have shown good leadership and negotiated with the interests of the civil servants and the country’s citizens at heart.

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