Public Sector Unions (PSUs) say they are willing to sign the salary review deal tomorrow, but only if government increases the current budget allocation.
This was revealed by PSU leaders, who described the negotiation process as tough but progressive. They stated that if government adds to the existing budget, they would gladly sign the salary review agreement with their employer.
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Government last week allocated E1.29 billion for the implementation of the salary review, a significant increase from the E500 million initially budgeted. However, the full implementation of the consultant’s recommendations requires E1.643 billion.
Negotiations Enter Fifth Day
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Lot Vilakati said the unions would be entering day five of negotiations today, with another meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 10am.
He said union leaders had been asked to consult with their principals and return with a reasonable response regarding both the offer and their demands.
Related: PSUs Offer: Government Hints at Raising More Funds
Vilakati noted that negotiations were a process of “give and take,” emphasizing the need for fairness and balance.
“Everyone should benefit from this process. Since we are all working for government, it is only fair that government releases sufficient funds while employees make reasonable demands,” he said.
He added that the unions were the only parties expected to attend tomorrow’s negotiations.
“On Thursday last week, we negotiated until morning and returned to the table on Friday, but we could not reach an agreement. We then decided to make consultations, while government also did the same,” he said.
‘We Are Ready to Sign for a Better Offer’
National Public Service and Allied Workers Union Secretary General Msimeto Malindzisa said they were ready to sign a better offer that would leave employees “better off, not worse off.”
He expressed optimism that tomorrow would be the decisive day, saying both parties seemed eager to conclude.
“We are ready to sign tomorrow, and we have been ready from the beginning. We even opted to negotiate through the night on Thursday in hopes of reaching an agreement. The only delay now is financial, we do not want the money to be paid in phases,” he said.
Alternative Proposals on the Table
Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) Secretary General Mayibongwe Masangane also confirmed readiness to sign, depending on government’s response to their proposals.
He said the unions had presented two options:
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Phased payments, starting with 64% of the total amount due, or
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A notch-to-notch implementation system, which would see employees paid according to their experience.
“If government agrees to either of these proposals, we will sign, because it will be in the best interests of the employees,” Masangane said.
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