During the public sector workers’ fury at the proposed 3% raise, Minister Thulas Nxesi was jeered. When acting public service and administration minister Thulas Nxesi walked outside to speak with protesting public sector workers who had marched to the National Treasury’s headquarters in Pretoria on Tuesday, he was met with a harsh response.
The third nationwide demonstration against the government’s 3% baseline salary offer for public employees was staged by the SA Federation of Trade Unions, the Federation of Unions SA, and the Congress of SA Trade Unions.
They demanded a 10% raise or at the very least, a restart of talks.
Nxesi was jeered at and called names by the protesting union members as he stood next to the leaders of the unions on a makeshift stage.
When the union leaders asked if they wanted the minister to address them, several of them cursed in Afrikaans and begged him to go. The minister dodged the object that seemed to be a can that a protester had thrown at him.
Workers in the public sector yell at Minister of Employment and Labor Thulas Nxesi, demanding him to leave. On February 22, in Pretoria, the workers were demonstrating for higher pay.
Public sector employees demonstrate for increased pay On November 22, 2022, public sector employees will demonstrate in Pretoria in support of increased pay. Image: Saftu Supplied/Supplied
Many demonstrators explained to News24 why they were rejecting the government’s offer of a 3% raise.
A 3% increase, according to nurse Casca Makwevho, would cost R280. When the disease first spread to South Africa, he was one of the first medical professionals to contract Covid-19.
“We continued to work throughout the pandemic. Working has traumatized us. We received no counseling. We are hoping that the government will return to the table.”
Public Servants Association (PSA) member Thabo Thobakgale warned that if the government ignored the protests, the unions would escalate their struggle and eventually bring the nation to a standstill.
“We want the government to return to the table because we are sick and tired of their haughtiness,”
On the Gauteng leg of the demonstration, members of the SA Communist Party and Green Peace joined forces with the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union, the Democratic Nursing Organization of SA, the SA Policing Union, the PSA, and the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers.
Green Peace, according to a spokeswoman named Nhlanhla Sibisi, supports the unions.
“We support unions in the fight for sustainable energy because we think everyone should have access to it and we support sustainable jobs. The renewable energy industry offers employment “Sibisi stated.
In addition to a monthly cash payment of R1 045, the government is providing the employees with a base salary of 3%. Currently, the employees get paid R1000 in cash.