Times Of Swaziland: CIVIL SERVANTS TAKE IMPASSE WITH GOVT TO CMAC

CIVIL SERVANTS TAKE IMPASSE WITH GOVT TO CMAC
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Sithembile Hlatshwayo on 09/06/2022 08:38:00


MBABANE – Dead end!
This phrase has proven to be true following the obtaining scenario at the joint
negotiations forum (JNF). Shortly after the resumption of talks yesterday, the
government negotiations team (GNT) and public sector associations (PSAs) failed
to agree on the items on the agenda. This has resulted in PSAs agreeing to
register a dispute with CMAC today. Last week, PSAs petitioned government
following its last-minute postponement of the JNF, citing other commitments by
the GNT.  However, the talks could not continue yesterday as they did not agree
on the items on the agenda.  This follows an agreement that was reached during
the last JNF meeting to have the negotiations framework come first on the
agenda, followed by 2016 appeals, allowances and salary review exercise.
However, government on the other hand, wanted the sequence of the agenda to be
COLA, negotiations framework, appeals and salary review. Both parties then
agreed in principle that the negotiations framework should be the first item.
Withdrew
Government had a change of heart yesterday and withdrew the agreement. This was
after PSAs refused that the cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA) be placed as a
second item on the agenda.  Articulating on what transpired during the meeting,
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Deputy Secretary General
Simanga Khumalo said trouble began when they were supposed to take up item
number two on the agenda, which had to be appeals but government insisted on
discussing CoLA. Khumalo said if the 2022/2023 CoLA was placed ahead of 2016
appeals and allowances, it did not make sense to them as the judgment made would
be on a false position. “If 2016 allowances will be effected as per the salary
review, it means when 2022/2023 is effected, it will be on improved wages.”
Khumalo said this was because if the 2016 review stated that housing allowance
was at 3 500 which had not been effected and when this year’s CoLA was
included, it would add on top of the allowance which would make the wages much
better. However, he mentioned that if CoLA was ahead on the agenda and discussed
before the appeals and allowances, it would mean they were disregarding the
pending 2016 salary review process, yet it would allow members to survive the
current economic situation. He stated that item two, which had to be discussed,
were appeals, while three was allowances. These issues, he said, were not
exhausted from the 2016 salary review. He said as PSAs, they were of the view
that they needed to complete those issues first because the salary review for
2021/2022 would also have its own appeals and allowances. Khumalo said they
hoped that they would first address the pending issues before engaging on the
new ones. “Government refused to discuss the items and also went to the extent
of withdrawing item number one on the agenda.”
The deputy SG said the differences between the PSAs and government were delaying
the JNF as they were failing to come up with the agenda for 2022/2023. He said
following the disagreements, they were yet to consult on the way forward.
Khumalo stated that the order of priority on the agenda was informed by their
principals. He said parties needed to justify why they wanted a specific item to
be discussed. He said their argument was that the issues were common, adding
that the challenge was prioritising them. “By allowing the negotiations forum
to be first on the agenda is because the other issues will then automatically
fall into place.” He said government, on the other hand, was not prepared to
justify why they wanted CoLA to come second on the agenda. Khumalo said they
raised their concerns that they were not meeting at the JNF to be dictated to by
government but instead to be partners and look at issues in order of their
priority.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Sipho Tsabedze said they
wanted CoLA to be the first item, but the PSAs refused and wanted the
negotiations framework. Tsabedze said through the spirit of negotiation, they
allowed for it on condition that CoLA was second on the agenda. “PSAs are not
negotiating but dictating.” He said the challenge with PSAs was that they were
dictating and wanted government to take their sequence. The PS said all they
wanted was for the items to alternate, being PSAs item and government followed
which they believed was fair. Tsabedze said they also felt CoLA was a priority
and that nothing would be disregarded if it came second on the agenda.