GPSSBC

The NUPSAW together with other Unions in the Home Affairs Departmental Bargaining Council has declared a dispute on the employer's refusal to bring on par the employees from erstwhile TVBC states and Bantustans with their erstwhile RSA following the High Court overturning the judge White's findings.

The matter is now in arbitration under the auspices of the General Public Service Sectoral Bargaining Council (GPSSBC) and we will keep you informed on developments.find out more

PHSDSBC

Once more as predicted the Government has refused to entertain proposals from other Unions for salary negotiations for 2004/5 before the elections are over. This led to NUPSAW together with other Unions walking out of the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) meeting as it served no purpose to continue with such a meeting in the light of the Government's arrogant attitude.find out more

PSCBC

• Salary Negotiations 2004 - Labour Consolidated Demands - click here to download
• NUPSAW/Hospersa 2004 Salary Demands - click here to download
• 2007/2008 Labour Consolidated Salary Demands - click here to download
• 2009/2010 Labour Consolidated Salary Demands - click here to download
• 2010/2011 ILC Salary Demands - click here to download
• 2011/2012 Labour Consolidated demands - click here to download

Labour accepts the 6.8% offer

16 August 2011

The employer formally tabled the 6.8% wage offer amid the PSCBC meeting that was held on Fri (12 August) in Centurion. 

Yesterday, labour formally accepted the employers wage offer exclusive of Housing and Medical-Aid benefits. Salaries will be backdated from May 2011.

Labour will sign the agreement this afternoon at the PSCBC.

                                                                                                                                             

PSCBC MEETING

03 August 2011

Meeting between the ILC and the Minister yesterday ended on a positive note. Salary negotiations will resume on Fri at the PSCBC.

Meeting Re-scheduled

                                                           01 August 2011

The meeting with Minister of PSA and ILC scheduled for Fri July 29th was rescheduled for today Mon (01 Aug), then later rescheduled for Tuesday 02 August 2011. 

                                                                                                                                             

ILC to meet with Minister of PSA

26 July 2011

Minister for Public Service and Administration requests a meeting with ILC principals on Friday 29 July.

We will inform you of the outcome
                                                                                                                                              

Media Statement by the ILC

18 July 2011  

What is the  Reason for the Delay? 

The principals of the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC) that represent 10 unions and more than 460,000 union members in the Public Service, are concerned about the inability of parties in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) to conclude salary negotiations for 2011/ 2012. Parties in the PSCBC have been in engagement on this matter since April 2011 even though the ILC submitted its initial demands already in October 2010.

Labour insisted some time ago on the appointment of an external facilitator to facilitate negotiations in an endeavour to expedite processes as it became increasingly evident that negotiations were heading for a cul de sac. Initially good progress was shown, but unfortunately it must be reported that there has been very little progress for almost a month. The urgency to finalise is obvious since the general salary adjustment was supposed to have been implemented with effect from 1 May 2011, and the new improved housing benefit with effect from 1 April 2011 in terms of the collective agreement concluded during October last year.

It is irresponsible not to finalise against the background of the fact that strike season in the broader labour market is in full swing, and there is no guarantee that the same emotions may not spill over into the Public Service. Members of all unions are undoubtedly becoming more restless by the day and any further procrastination to finalise, will be very irresponsible. The negotiating parties who are still involved in a process of formal facilitation will meet again on Friday, 22 July 2011, and the hope is expressed that all parties will be aware of the urgency to finalise the matter.

The latest offer on the table by the State as employer, is an “informal” offer of 6.8% as integral part of the facilitation process. The formal demand of the ILC still remains at 8%. The reason why the offer is regarded as an “informal” offer, is that the offer was made during the facilitation process in an endeavour to convince parties to conclude on an urgent basis. This offer was made a almost a  month ago and since then there has been very little urgency to finalise even though the ILC has indicated on numerous occasion that based on formal mandates, we are ready to engage all parties.

Although the formal offer on the table is 6%, the ILC is of the opinion that it would be irresponsible by the employer to attempt to revert to the 6% offer in light of the fact that the 6.8% offer has been communicated to union members and there is a legitimate expectation that the employer will not revert to a previous lower offer. At the moment the ILC unions are testing the acceptability of the 6.8% offer with their members.

As stated, the employer was obliged to implement a new housing benefit scheme with effect from 1 April this year. No headway whatsoever can be reported. Emanating from discussions with union members from all ILC unions, it is evident that this matter is an extremely emotional issue. As can be deduced, it will be impossible to implement a new housing benefit within the immediate future. The best that parties can now hope for, is to agree to a new process to investigate and do research on a viable housing benefit scheme that may be implemented as soon as possible. Unions are also testing their members on the acceptability of the present procrastination and the way forward. 

No progress whatsoever can also be reported with regard to the equalisation of medical aid subsidy for members of open schemes, as well as for pensioners.  The same lack of progress is also apparent with regard to the minimum service agreement for essential services.  It is almost as if the sense of urgency to conclude on this issue has been lost in light of the fact that the Public Service is presently not on strike. The ILC has warned on numerous occasions that this matter must be finalised in the interest of quality service delivery.

The ILC is committed to an expedited conclusion of negotiations and will comply with its undisputed role of responsible labour formation by participating in the most accountable manner and to implore all other parties to adopt a similar approach on Friday, 22 July when parties meet again. The ILC as independent labour formation is fully dedicated to quality public service delivery and the improvement of the benefits of all public service employees, and hopefully we will be able to report progress. THE END

                                                                                                                                              

Latest News on Salary Negotiations

12 July 2011

The Independent Labour Caucus (representing NUPSAW in Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council) met this week to report on the meeting held with the Minister of Department of Public Service Administration last week. Amid this meeting the parties deliberated on employers proposed offer of 6.8% wage increase and determined the reasonable time to finalize the outstanding issues which are housing, medical-aid subsidy and minimum service agreement. 

 

The formal offer with regard to the salary adjustment is 6%. The 6.8% will only be formally tabled if it is probable to conclude an agreement and there are no further benefits to fund.

 

The ILC concede that the offer may be regarded as reasonable but are of the view that the employer should meet the revised demand of 7%.

 

Salary negotiations are expected to be concluded in the next few weeks and salaries will be adjusted with effect from the 1 July.

 

The ILC also deliberated on the issues of time scales, further utilization of facilitator and other issues. It is expected that outstanding issues will be finalised by the 31 August 2011. Hence, the ILC proposed that the services of the facilitator must be utilised to engage the employer on this issue.

 

This resolution was communicated with COSATU, and the latter requested an indulgence to seek mandate from their members. Parties will meet on July 21, 2011.

 

We will keep you informed on any further developments.

                                                                                                                                             

EMPLOYER OFFERS 6.8%

NUPSAW SEEKS MANDATE                                                

29 June 2011

NUPSAW seek the mandate from members on governments offer of 6.8% wage increase. Parties will further investigate the principle of equalization of medical-aid subsidy payable to GEMS members. On housing parties agree to establish a technical working team (Organised Labour an Employer) to develop a housing model and implementation plan to be tabled to Council no later than 30 June 2011. The Government Employee Housing Scheme will be implemented from 01 April 2012 the date of agreement.

NUPSAW members are requested to vote yes/no via sms, voting closes 30 June 2011.

                                                                                                                                                                                             

UNION'S REVISED THEIR MANDATES

    22 June 2011

The masses responded in favour of revised salary demand following the employers offer of 6%. NUPSAW requested the mandate yesterday and voting is now closed. 

                                                                                                                                             

NUPSAW TO REVISE MANDATE

NUPSAW  REQUEST MANDATE

21 June 2011

With the culmination of facilitation process, the employer adjusted his offer to 6% wage increase. In the spirit of negotiating in good faith unions had to revise their demand to 7% following consultation with their members.

NUPSAW members are urged vote for or against the offer (yes/no) by the end of business day today. 

                                                                                                                                             

APPOINTMENT OF FACILITATOR

30 May 2011

The Constitution of the PSCBC in clause 16 allows for a negotiating procedure on matters of mutual interest.

Clause 16.3 (c) and (d) specifically refers to amongst other the following areas for Council to attempt to agree on in a negotiation process;

•     The appointment of one or more facilitator, if necessary, to facilitate the negotiations and         chair the meetings; and
•     The timetable for negotiations.
  

Council in the meeting of the 5th May 2011 closed without having the opportunity to consider the above.

In considering a facilitator Council may want to consider acquiring a high level mediator wit specific experience in wage settlements and the Public Service.

Brian Currin has been identified as a possible candidate for consideration by Council. The daily fees for Mr Currin is R12 000.00 per working day (8 hour) or part therefof

Also important is for Council to agree on a timetable for the negotiations. In considering the timetable the availability of the facilitator also needs to be taken into consideration.

Mr Currin proposed the following time table;

•     Mediation process - 1st and 2nd June 201
•     Recess from the 6th - 10th June 2011 for Parties to consider mediation proposes       reassess positions and/or consulation on mandates
•     Mediation process to reconvene - 14th June 2011 util concluded
  

It is recommend to Council:

    The appointment of Mr Brian Currin as facilitator in terms of clause 16.3 (c) of the           Constitution
   To agree to the time table as proposed as per clause 16.3 (d) of the Constitution
                                                                                                                                     

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT by the ILC & COSATU

06 May 2011

 SALARY NEGOTIATIONS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE REACH DEADLOCK

 
The COSATU unions and the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC), representing 14 unions and approximately 1.3 million employees of the State in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) reached a deadlock with the employer last night on public service wage negotiations. This means an outside facilitator may be required to assist parties reach an agreement.

In the spirit of ensuring that this round of negotiations is concluded timeously, as labour we tabled our initial demand of a 10 percent salary increase as early as February 2011. The employer only responded on 22 March 2011 with an offer of 4,8 percent which we rejected.

On 21 April 2011 the employer came back to motivate their offer having not entertained our justifiable demands at all, they then tabled a 5 percent offer which we also rejected.

The projected CPI for 2011 is 4.8%. In light of  the present increases in the prices of food, electricity, and fuel, as well as the expected increase in the prime bank rate, a real increase of 0.4% is totally unacceptable. Our demands essentially aim to ensure that workers are not the hardest hit given our unpredictable economic trends.

Due to the lack of urgency by the employer to conclude a resolution with the view to implement salary adjustments by 01 May 2011, the parties in the PSCBC unfortunately last night reached a deadlock .This came after the employer tabled a meagre revised offer of a 5,1 then 5,2 percent increase in response to our compromise demand of a 9 percent increase. It is important to note that the employer has only moved by 0,4 percent which demonstrates their unwillingness to conclude these negotiations amicably. This is despite the fact that labour has moved by a percent.

The employer has also not addressed other outstanding issues like housing and medical aid.

Unions have indicated at the time of declaring a deadlock that they are available 24 hours 7 days a week to negotiate and reach an agreement...

For more information contact

Mugwena Maluleke 082-783-2968 COSATU 

Chris Klopper 083-708-7735 Independent Labour Caucus

                                                                                                                                             

EMPLOYERS RESPONSE

31 March 2011

DRAFT AGREEMENT ON IMPROVEMENT IN SALARIES AND OTHER CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR
FY 2011/12 ― 2015/16

[The response from the employer on the consolidated demands of the unions]

1.     

OBJECTIVES

    1.1 To provide a basis for the annual general salary adjustments and                                         improvement in conditions of service for employees for the FY 2011/12 to                         201512016.

-->2.      -->SCOPE

    2.1 This agreement binds the employer; and employees who: 

    2.1.1 are employed by the State; and

    2.1.2 fall within the registered scope of the Council,

    THE PARTIES TO COUNCIL AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

-->3.      -->SALARY ADJUSTMENT

3.1 The salary adjustment on 1 May 2011 shall be projected CPI for the period 1   April 2011 to 31 to March 2012 (4.8%).

3.2 The salary adjustment on 1 April 2012 shall be projected CPI for the period 1    April 2012 to 31 to March 2013

3.3 The salary adjustment on 1 April 2013 shall be projected CPI for the period 1    April 2013 to 31 to March 2014.

3.4 The salary adjustment on 1 April 2014 shall be projected CPI for the period 1    April 2014 to  March 2015.   

3.5 The salary adjustment on 1 April 2015 shall be projected CPI for the period 1    April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

3.6 If the actual CPI is higher than the average projected CPI, the difference shall   be added to the salary adjustment for the following year. If the actual CPI is lower than   the average projected CPI, the difference shall be deducted from the salary adjustment for the following year, The forecasts ofNational Treasury shall be used to determine the projected CPI.

 4. HOUSING

4.1 Parties agree to implement the Social Housing Scheme of the Department of Human Settlements, i.e. all employees on salary levels 1 to 3 will, provided that they comply with the set criteria, be eligible for the said housing scheme with effect from 1 June 2011,

4.2 The employer commits to table the framework of the new Housing Finance Scheme for negotiation in the PSCBC by 30 June 2011.

4.3 The employer commits to table a proposal on the administration and management of the new Housing Finance Scheme by 30 April 2012,

4.4 The employer commits to implement the new Housing Finance Scheme for all employees in the Public Service by no later than 30 April 2013.

4. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

5.1 Parties agree to encourage employees, existing and future pensioners who are members of Open Schemes to join GEMS to access the enhanced subsidies

5.2 Parties agree that all employees who are members of GEMS on the Sapphire option, who are currently on salary levels 1 to 5 and receiving free medical assistance, will continue to receive free medical assistance at retirement, with effect from 1 June 2011. Only employees, on salary levels 1 to 5, who retire on the Sapphire option, will continue to receive free medical assistance.

5.3 The parties agree to the alignment of the pre and post retirement medical assistance dispensation for all employees who are members of GEMS with effect from 1 June 2011.

6 WORKING TIME

6.1 Parties agree that the working time arrangements in the Public Service are to  be reviewed with a view to determine which service delivery areas require additional and/or different working time arrangements to facilitate service   delivery improvement and employment creation. The research to be conducted  is to be concluded within 36 months from the date of the signing of the collective agreement in the PSCBC. 

6.2 The employer commits to table a on the revised working time arrangement    within the Public Service on 1 April 2014. proposal

7 INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION

7.1 in the event of any conflict between the provisions of this agreement and any other agreement of the Council, the provisions of this agreement shall take precedence,

7.2 No amendments to this agreement shall be of force unless reduced to    writing and agreed upon at Council as a resolution of the Council.

8. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

8.1 Disputes about the interpretation or application of this agreement shall be  dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures of the Council.

 THIS DONE AND SIGNED AT CENTURION ON THIS THE          DAY OF             2011.

                                                                                                                                             

LABOUR RESPONSE

06 April 2011

Mr Ndaba

ILC RESPONSE: EMPLOYER OFFER DATED 22 MARCH 2011

We principals of the ILC have thoroughly considered the content of the offer tabled by the employer to the employee parties in the PSCBC on 22 March 2011. After careful deliberation we wish to formally respond as follows:

1, That the offer is respectfully rejected.

2. The reasons for said rejection is as follows:

a.       Salary adiustment:

i. The proposed salary adjustment of 4.8% with effect from 1 May 2011 is in

terms of the latest inflation forecast by the SA Reserve Bank, i.e. 4.7%, equal to CPI+0.1%. We believe that the nominal increase can only be evaluated in terms of a real increase. In this regard the proposed real increase is 0.1%, and unions will find it difficult to convince union members that such an increase can be regarded as a fair increase.

We also note that a multi term agreement is proposed. In light of the fact that the increases for the period with effect from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2016, is only CPI, we are likewise of the opinion that we will find it extremely difficult to convince members to accept such an offer as fair.

With reference to your pars 3.6, we respectfully content that the construction requires further attention.

b.      Housing:

i. The proposal bears no resemblance whatsoever to pare 4 of PSCBC

Resolution 4 of 2010. In terms of this paragraph the employer agreed to implement a home ownership scheme with effect from 1 April 2011. The logic of your latest proposal to postpone the implementation date with 24 months to 30 April 2013, is extremely difficult to grasp.

We also note that the underlying principle has shifted from a "home ownership scheme" to a "housing finance scheme".

i. Furthermore, we note that the employer has shifted from the principled

position that parties will research, investigate and develop models in collaboration with other state departments.

iv. Employees have the legitimate expectation that a viable and market related

housing assistance scheme would have been implemented with effect from 1 April 2011. Unions will find it extremely difficult to convince union members that the proposal of the employer is reasonable,

2

Medical assistance:

Your latest proposal likewise bears no resemblance to pare 5 of PSCBC Resolution 4 of 2010. As far as we are aware no joint investigation with regard to the equalization of medical aid subsidy for employees who are members of other medical aid schemes have occurred.

Your proposal in effect implies that an investigation is not required, and that you have unilaterally decided that the principle agreed to in pare 5.1 can no longer be regarded as meritorious. Such an approach is unacceptable.

With reference to your proposed pare 5.3, we respectfully must draw your attention to pare 5.2 of PSCBC Resolution no 4 of 2010 wherein you have already agreed to the alignment of post retirement medical aid subsidy.

d. General:

i. We are fully aware of the fact that the three above mentioned items are the

primary issues that must be dealt with, but we find it incomprehensible why no proposal whatsoever has been made with regard to the outstanding issues as annotated in para 6 and 7 of PSCBC Resolution 4 of 2010.

These outstanding matters have not been addressed since 2007, and it would be irresponsible to ignore the importance thereof in the hope that they may just disappear.

                  In said Resolution parties agreed to address such outstanding issues and at

the very least a coherent proposal to address them is expected.

We undertake to also discuss the above with the COSATU caucus in an endeavour to formulate a consolidated labour position. However, should it not be possible, we deem it expedient that you should note the position of the !LC and provide a coherent response thereto.

We look forward to collective bargaining and trust that all parties will have an objective and reasonable approach with the aim to conclude a collective agreement before 1 May 2011.

Yours faithfully

J.C.KLOPPER CHAIRMAN

 

SALARY NEGOTIATIONS

February 17, 2011

The Independent Labour Caucus (ILC), representing NUPSAW and the other unions in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBS) and COSATU have submitted their consolidated labour demands which were submitted to the employer on 15 February at 14H00. 

Included in the demands are the following:

    1.  Wage demand - salary increase of 10% ATB

   2.  Equalization of medical-aid subsidy granted to GEMS members and other medical-aid                 schemes

    3. Increase pensioners medical-aid subsidy to R 2 224 p/m and be de-linked from that              of employees

    4. Housing-allowance of R1650 p/m and be de-linked from spouses

    5. Shop-stewards leave increase to 25-day p/a

    6. In-source of out-sourced services

    7. Child-care facilities in the workplace

    8. PSCBC to conduct an independent-study for compliance with OHSA

    9. Development of uniform Performance Management and Development Systems (PMDS)

    10. Capped leave up to 60-days from the age of 57 for the purpose of retirement

    11. Overtime rate to be calculated on salaty notch basis

          and more...

The employer will respond back to the unions sometime next-week.

                                                                                                                                             

SSSBC

Agreements:

2000 - click here to download

2001 - click here to download

2002 - click here to download

2003 - click here to download

2004 - click here to download

2005 - click here to download

ELRC

The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), deals directly with maters relating to the education sector. NUPSAW as serving members in this field has and will refer cases to the council find out more