GNT NO-SHOW FOR SALARY TALKS

MANZINI – Once again, civil servants representatives found themselves alone at the negotiation table.

This took place yesterday at the Ministry of Public Service   boardroom where they, public sector associations (PSAs) gathered to meet the Government Negotiation Team (GNT) to appoint an arbitrator to deal with cost of living adjustment issue as per the court order. A well-placed source at the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) said when they arrived at the round table, the PSAs were told that the GNT was not aware that they were supposed to meet because the policy of the table was that they met twice a month; on the first and third week. However, another source within the unions said there were minutes which said they should meet weekly until the agenda was completed. Meanwhile, Evart Madlopha, the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service, who heads the GNT, said there was a mix-up of information.

He said both parties knew that according to the policy of the round table, they could not meet  on the last Wednesday of every month because it was a day for PSAs’ monthly meetings, which he attended yesterday.
However, the PS acknowledged that there was an agreement to the effect that the parties should meet weekly until the issue of cost of living adjustment was finalised.  He said he could not say who was wrong or right as he believes was a mix-up of information. It is worth noting that on Monday, the parties are supposed to report to the court about the developments of the table, especially the appointment of an arbitrator. The court issued this judgment after the parties signed a deadlock on the matter. When the cost of living adjustment negotiations started about three months ago, the unions demanded 9.15 per cent pay rise but government offered them zero per cent and had maintained that offer.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: