17 May 2007
The SACP has been closely following developments in the current round of negotiations between government and public sector unions. The SACP is concerned that these negotiations have now reached a deadlock. We would have hoped that indeed an amicable agreement would by now have been reached by both parties. The consequences of this deadlock may lead to what might perhaps be the single biggest strike by public sector workers in South Africa. The SACP is indeed concerned at the possible disruptions that such action may cause in the delivery of public services in our country.
However the SACP is strongly of the view that the workers' demand of an increase higher than the 6% offered by government is perfectly reasonable and legitimate. We are therefore still hopeful that even at this late stage the parties will still find a resolution to the dispute, and in particular for government to revise its offer. It has been our view that salaries and conditions of service for public sector workers need to be significantly improved as part of build a strong public service as a key layer towards the building of a developmental state.
It is our understanding as the SACP that public sector workers are the core cadres of our national democratic revolution. There is no developmental state without a motivated, skilled and professional cadre of public sector workers. The public sector is not some temporary, basket case charity enterprise. The public sector is the seed of a different kind of economy - an economy in which we place meeting social needs (and not maximizing private profit) in the driving seat.
We had also hoped that the current round of negotiations will be used to address the huge wage gap in the public service. For instance the wage gap between workers on the coalface of service delivery and senior management positions is unacceptably huge, and must be addressed.
Whilst the SACP accepts the fact that this is a normal labour dispute, other factors need to be taken into account that are impacting on the current dispute.
The SACP has in recent years been warning about the growing restiveness within the working class given the growing inequalities in earnings and income in broader South African society, as well as the decline of the workers' wages share of the GDP. This is complicated by an economic trajectory characterized by huge profits and remuneration, but at the same time increasing casualisation and negligible rise in the general wages of the workers. This is putting a lot of pressure on all the workers in South Africa, both in the public and private sector.
These negotiations also take place in an environment where hefty salary increases are being proposed for certain categories of political office bearers.
It is against this background that the SACP calls on government to improve its wage and conditions of service offer to public service workers. It cannot be that workers wages continue to decline and the prices of basic amenities continues to rock up and our government sticks to a conservative inflation rate wages increases policy.
As much as the SACP would not like to see the disruption of public services, we will have no choice but to support the pending strike if no amicable solution is found, and we call on all our members to mobilise in support of such possible action.
Issued by the SACP
For information Contact:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson
0822261802