SOUTH Africa’s public sector unions want a general salary rise of consumer inflation plus 4% for all workers, a document they presented to the government showed on Monday, as talks began on a wage deal seen as key to helping the government contain its spiralling debt.
The list of 16 demands, which includes better housing payments and a risk allowance of 12% of basic salary due to the COVID-19 pandemic, comes amid a court fight between the unions representing more than 1 million teachers, nurses and police and the state over salaries.
Public sector unions, including those from the COSATU federation aligned with the governing African National Congress (ANC), have approached South Africa’s highest court to try to force National Treasury to pay the final tranche of the preceding three-year wage settlement struck in 2018.
“We make an appeal to government to negotiate with us in good faith and not
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