10 March 2023

SADTU STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE SPECIAL NEC MEETING ON WAGE OFFER BY

GOVERNMENT
The National Executive Committee of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union
(SADTU) held a special meeting last night to deliberate on the latest wage offer presented
by Government at the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSCBC). SADTU is part of 53,7% of
public service unions in negotiations.
These negotiations are taking place under difficult circumstances as other unions in the
public service sector are boycotting the process.
The Committee expressed deep reservations about the posture of PSBC General Secretary,
Frikkie De Bruin during these negotiations. The Committee accused him of dividing labour
by running parallel negotiations. De Bruin has taken a unilateral decision to have a
facilitation process with the unions who are boycotting negotiations and declared a dispute.
According to Bargaining Council constitution, the decision for a facilitation process must be
agreed upon in Council.
He was “conveniently” not present in the last negotiations meeting when labour presented
their demands. In that meeting, the Unions boycotting negotiations tried to render the
meeting ungovernable. They first tried to convince the negotiators to abandon the process
but failed. They then began to sing inside the chamber while negotiators were busy
presenting. Their attempts again failed as unions continued to make their presentations
amid the chaos.
The Committee vowed it would not allow the PSCBC to divide labour. The Bargaining
Council was established through the blood and tears of workers calling for a platform where
both the employer and labour could sit and iron out issues in order to ensure labour peace.
We will do all to ensure that the Council continues to do its work without fear or favour and
that all parties respect this platform.
The latest offer by government presented in response to the demands tabled by labour
entails a pensionable salary increase and a three-year term agreement.
On the housing allowance, the employer indicated they could not afford to increase the
housing allowance but was willing to negotiate in future rounds of negotiations.
SADTU’s initial demands, as well as those of Unions in negotiations, are a 10% salary
increase across the board, a single-term agreement and R2 500 housing subsidy. After
deliberating on the latest employer offer and noting that negotiations are guided by the
principle of give and take, the meeting allowed that the negotiators continue negotiating
guided by the principle and considering members’ demands.
The joint labour caucus also agreed to continue with negotiations in order to ensure that
workers’ conditions of employment are improved especially the notch increment which will
improve their retirement savings.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat
CONTACT:
General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke: 082 783 2968
Deputy General Secretary, Nkosana Dolopi: 082 709 5651
Secretariat Officer, Xolani Fakude: 071355 1566
Media Officer, Nomusa Cembi: 082 719 5157