SASSA strike temporarily called off

STRIKE action by South African Social Services (SASSA) employees has been called off pending a meeting with Minister Susan Shabangu on Thursday.

Workers affiliated to the Public Servants Association (PSA) embarked on a strike yesterday (Monday) because of SASSA’s failure to engage in salary negotiations with its employees.

The PSA said following a brief meeting with the minister on Monday, she requested time to consult with relevant stakeholders and undertook to revert to the PSA at a follow-up meeting on Thursday.

‘At Monday’s meeting, the PSA made it clear to the minister that the SASSA Bargaining Forum is the only recognised structure for negotiating matters of mutual interest for employees,’ said PSA General Manager, Ivan Fredericks.

‘The PSA is adamant that SASSA is not bound by any bargaining process under the auspices of the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC).

‘In placing trust in the minister’s favourable consideration of the union’s position, it has decided to temporarily relax the current industrial action.’
PSA members will however continue with lunch-time picketing pending the outcome of the meeting.

‘This meeting will also be decisive in guiding the PSA’s position relating to future industrial action at SASSA,’ said Fredericks.

The strike action follows the signing of a public sector wage settlement agreement between labour unions and government last Friday.

The three-year multi-term agreement was signed by a 65.74% majority of all parties in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council.