FEDUSA APPROACHES LABOUR COURT TO FORCE GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT RESOLUTION 1/2018
06 June 2020
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) and its public sector affiliates, HOSPERSA, NAPTOSA, PSA, SAOU, SAPTU and UNIPSAWU have formally served papers on all respondents cited in their legal action, following Government’s failure to implement the latter part of the 3 – year wage agreement concluded on 08 June 2018. Case number (J 500\20) has now formally been received from the Labour Court with the notice of motion and founding affidavits issued, following the much anticipated and patient wait for the reopening of the courts following the country’s hard lockdown and phased in approach since March 27, 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
The multi term agreement, Resolution 1/2018, concluded and signed by all parties in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) defines salary adjustments and improvements to conditions of service for public servants, for the financial-years 2018\19, 2019\20 and 2020\21. Clause 3.3 of the Resolution deals with the salary adjustments, percentages and the projected CPI in relation to the 2020\21 financial year.
The Department of Public Service and Administration is bound by an agreement regulating the salary adjustments and improvements on conditions of service in the public service for the period 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, as incorporated in Resolution 1 of 2018 of the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC)
In terms of clause 3.3. of the Resolution, it was agreed that with effect from 1 April 2020, and until 31 March 2021, the salary adjustments for employees on salary levels 1-12 will be as follows:
“Level 1 to 7: Projected CPI +1.0%
Level 8 to 10: Projected CPI + 0.5%; and
Level 11 to 12: Projected CPI”
The state as employer, has declined to implement Clause 3.3 and wants to re-negotiate the agreement. FEDUSA and its affiliated unions within the PSCBC remain totally opposed to any form of renegotiation, as the multi – term agreement remains legally binding. FEDUSA believes that its members have a contractual right to have their salaries increased as stipulated in the PSCBC Collective Agreement and can only be enforced through the Labour Court. FEDUSA is optimistic that a set down notice will be received soon.
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For interviews please contact:
Ms Riefdah Ajam FEDUSA General Secretary 079 696 2626
Mr Noel Desfontaines HOSPERSA General Secretary 071 890 0134
Mr Basil Manuel NAPTOSA Executive Director 079 508 6228
Mr Leon Gilbert PSA Acting General Manager 082 883 7239
Mr Chris Klopper SAOU Executive Director 083 708 7733
Adv Ben ban der Walt SAPTU General Secretary 083 260 8545
Mr Elias Bila UNIPSAWU President 082 690 1982