Public sector unions have warned of a shutdown in the public service next month if the government failed to meet their members’ wage demands.
The unions yesterday accused the government of taking its cue on the ongoing public sector wage negotiations from international ratings agencies.
They flatly rejected the acting Minister for Public Service and Administration Naledi Pandor’s request on Monday for more time from the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) to conduct further consultations on the negotiations.
Mugwena Maluleke, the convenor of COSATU unions in the PSCBC, said rating agencies were running the affairs of the government. ….more
“We are here to stamp the authority of the voters of this country. We cannot auction the power the government has to international ratings agencies,’’ Maluleke said.
“This is what the so-called consultation by Pandor means. In reality, what she meant was consultation with rating agencies and we cannot accept that.”