UNIONS’ CHILLED WARNING TO GOVT

MBABANE – Forewarned is foretold. Public Sector Associations (PSAs) have warned government about the consequences of a nationwide strike should push come to a shove in the, up now, topsy-turvy, negotiations process for their cost of living adjustment.

The PSAs are Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Swaziland Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP), Swaziland Nurses Association (SNA), and the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU).
They have tabled a cost of living adjustment demand of 9.15 per cent and government has offered them nothing. For a period of a month, government is yet to vary its offer of 0.00 per cent.

snubbed

After both parties snubbed the negotiations on September 20 and 27 respectively, the PSAs took government to court seeking an order compelling their employer to return to the negotiation table and conduct the process in good faith.

In their application at the Industrial Court, the PSAs, which are represented by Lucky Howe of Maphanga Howe Masuku Nsibande Attorneys, outlined the untold damage that would befall the country should they be pushed to a corner where they find themselves with no alternative but to strike.

Government, which is represented by Ndabenhle Dlamini, is still to respond to the associations’ affidavit.
SNAT Secretary General Zwelithini Mndzebele said as the matter stands now they are at a deadlock and the only option available under normal circumstances would be to strike, the effects of which would be devastating to the public.

He mentioned that the country recently applied for a loan of E600 million (US$50 million) for the referral hospital and secured another for E1.3 billion to upgrade the country’s roads.

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