Wage increases by 3% following teachers’ unions agreement
NAPTOSA and SADTU, two teachers’ unions, have both accepted the government’s revised 3% wage increase offer to public servants.
By Chris Gilili on GroundUp
Two teachers’ unions have accepted the government’s revised 3% wage increase offer to public servants.
The National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA), and the South African Democratic Teachers Unions (SADTU) have both accepted.
“It’s not what we wanted at all, we are not happy, but our members have made it clear that we must sign the offer. It’s better than getting nothing, ”
said SADTU spokesperson Nomusa Cembi. He said SADTU would not join a strike on the issue.
ALSO READ: EISH WENA: Female Teachers fight in front of students [viral video]
NAPTOSA director Bismail Manuel told GroundUp that he felt the unions had reached the end of the road with the wage negotiations.
“Our members agree that this 3% wage increase is an insult, but we also feel like we cannot get more. Our members also made it clear that they will not go on strike. Learners have already been seriously affected by the Covid pandemic, so going on industrial action just before the final school exams would be very selfish,” said Manuel.
“We will not negotiate for more, we are signing the offer.”
When the wage increase might take effect
Manuel said the union was hoping to influence the budget for 2023.
The negotiations with government deadlocked over four weeks ago and many unions have vowed to go on strike. The government is offering a 3% pensionable increase across the board, and the continuation of the current cash allowance of R1 000 at all salary levels.
Other public service unions including the Police, Prisons, and Civil Rights Union (POPCRU), the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NUPSAW) have rejected the 3% offer and threatened to go on strike.
ALSO READ: Did these EC teachers ‘dump kids in parking lot’ to go and PARTY?
Last month members of unions affiliated to the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), picketed, demanding a baseline increase of 8%.
The Public Servants Association (PSA) said it rejected the wage offer as it does not take into account the rising cost of living. If nothing changed, the union said it would strike next week.
This article was first published on GroundUp
ALSO READ: Another repatriation appeal for late SA English teacher in China
ALSO READ: Trans teacher defended after attending class with giant fake boobs
This article has been sourced from various publicly available news platforms around the world. All intellectual property rights remain with the original publishers and authors. Unshared News does not claim ownership of the content and provides it solely for informational and educational purposes voluntarily. If you are the rightful owner and believe this content has been used improperly, please contact us for prompt removal or correction.
