The public sector unions and government reached agreement on the payment adjustment of 7.5 per cent in 2023 from 1 April, and by a projected consumer price index capped at 6.5 per cent in 2024 to 1.2 million public servants.
The two-year salary agreement concludes the protracted and sometimes acrimonious negotiations which recently saw health workers and patients blocked from hospitals by striking members of the National Union of Health and Allied Workers Union.
At least five trade unions, representing the majority of public servants in South Africa signed the salary agreement with government. The trade unions include the South African Democratic Teachers Union, the National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa, the South Africa Teachers Union, the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa and the Public Servants Association.
Together, these trade unions, form a 53.9 per cent at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council.
The minority unions that did not sign the pay settlement are the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa, the National Health and Allied Workers Union, Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union and South Africa Police Union.
It remains to be seen what will become the way forward for the unions that have refused to sign the salary agreement, more especially because they constitute a minority in the bargaining council. NEHAWU is however on record that it will not accept the 7.5 per cent for 2023 until its demand from last year is met.
Last year the government unilaterally implemented a 3 per cent increase against the 10 per cent salary demand. This is bound to happen again this month when government implement the 2024 salary agreement of 7.5 per cent increase.