Last-ditch meeting to avoid public sector strike

Bargaining Council general secretary Shamira Huluman said the employer had sent a request for a meeting on May 28 and 29. A majority of council members was required for the meeting to go ahead, Huluman added. However, Cosatu public-sector union spokesperson Don Pasquallie confirmed that its affiliates on the council would attend the meeting. With Cosatu having 57% of the labour vote on the council, this in effect ensured that the meeting would go ahead, notes a report on the Mail & Guardian Online site. The government\'s chief negotiator, Kenny Govender, predicted ‘quite a shift on both sides’. ‘The purpose of that meeting is to get around the table to find a solution to the current deadlock. We\'re hoping that we can emerge with a possible solution.’ Full Mail & Guardian Online report

The wage dispute has the eye of monetary policy authorities. Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni said last night that if wage costs went higher than productivity improvements, unit labour costs would rise. ‘If that happens the producers will increase their prices which will feed into consumer prices. So it\'s something we must watch very carefully.’ He said he wanted to make it clear he was not trying to predetermine the outcome of the wage negotiations. ‘I\'m not trying to say whether the civil servants are correct in demanding the salary increases they want,’ he said. Then he added: ‘Only if they could improve service.’ Full report on the IoL site