Johannesburg – The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) has reacted angrily to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to award public office bearers a three percent wage hike.
In a statement at the weekend, NEHAWU said it was, “infuriated by the ridiculous decision” by President Ramaphosa.
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Public office bearers include the President, Deputy President, ministers, and deputy ministers, members of Parliament and the National Council of Provinces as well as the leadership structures of the two houses, premiers and MECs, members of the provincial legislature and their associated leadership structures, mayors and councillors, judges and magistrates and traditional leaders.
The increase is retrospectively from 1 April 2022.
NEHAWU added: “This inexplicable decision to increase the remuneration follows the recommendation by the Independent Commission for Remuneration of Public Office Bearers.
“Earlier this year, as NEHAWU, we called on the President to reject in the strongest terms the proposed salary increase for public office bearers by the Independent Commission for the remuneration and called on President Ramaphosa to ignore the recommendation”.
The union said it called on President Ramaphosa to reject the recommendation precisely because of the challenges confronting our country with high levels of unemployment, poverty, and inequality.
“Our call also centred on the fact that the government butchered public service workers who are at the coalface of service delivery by offering them an increment far below the inflation rate,’ NEHAWU said.
“We find it absolutely unethical for President Ramaphosa to agree to salary increases of public office bearers amidst the challenges confronting the country.”
NEHAWU said the decision to increase remuneration for public office bearers occurs when the government has been “hellbent on undermining collective bargaining” and reversing the gains of workers.
The union added: “‘This is evident with the government reneging on a signed collective agreement, the implementation of austerity measures, and the introduction of unilateralism.
“We are taken aback by this decision by President Ramaphosa bearing in mind the claim that government has no money yet the President has decided to be generous to public office bearers by giving them remuneration increase while workers and ordinary citizens are on the receiving end with many experiencing miseries, pains, suffocations, and financial hardships amidst the escalating cost of living”.
NEHAWU said there was “absolutely no justification” for public office bearers should be getting a remuneration increase.
