Independent Newspapers

Public sector workers chant and sing outside Natalspruit Hospital on the East Rand during the wage strike earlier this year. Photo: Steve Lawrence

Johannesburg - Public sector unions have accepted government's wage offer, the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) confirmed on Tuesday evening.

“An agreement has been signed... We have accepted the government's wage offer,” Sadtu spokesperson Mugwena Maluleke told Sapa.

He said the government had agreed to increase public workers' salaries by 7.5 percent, backdated to July 1.

Other features of the agreement include an R800 housing allowance, also backdated to July 1.

“We are still going to go through the process on a few things... Like medical aid which will hopefully be negotiated and implemented by next year.”

Independent Labour Caucus spokesperson Chris Kloppers told reporters: “Unions that represent the majority of employees have now signed the agreement and therefore it's a collective agreement.”

The minister for public service and administration confirmed that 66 percent of the unions had now signed the wage settlement.

Minister Richard Baloyi welcomed the signing by the majority of unions.

“Whilst an opportunity still exists for further signatories to the offer, the majority signature instructs us to implement the resolution,” he said in a statement.

“I have therefore instructed the acting director-general for the department of public service and administration to commence with processing the payment immediately.”

Unions suspended their four week strike early in September for 21 days to allow members time to consider the government's offer. - Sapa