The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), affiliated unions in the public service, i.e. SADTU, NEHAWU, POPCRU, DENOSA, SAMA, PAWUSA, SASAWU and SADNU, collectively representing more than 56% of workers in the sector, have observed with great concern the recent spate of sporadic outbreaks of wild-cat strikes. We believe that these strikes are triggered by a growing and already widespread frustration amongst workers with government's failure to implement the Occupationally Specific Dispensations (OSDs) across the board and the outstanding aspects of the Resolution 1 of 2007.

We wish to highlight the fact that in some instances government's delay in implementing the agreement has already extended for a period of almost a year; hence in February 2009 it was further agreed by all parties at the PSCBC that government must move with speed and prioritize the complete implementation of all aspects of the agreement. Thus, our intervention as COSATU in calling for urgency and decisiveness on the part of government is informed by our analysis on the ground that any further delay is bound to escalate the already pervasive anger and frustration to unleash explosive spates of uncontrollable labour unrests across the country.

As an interim measure, we believe that the implementation of the OSDs across the board will to some extent make a positive difference and expand on the gains of our historic 2007 strike, however we maintain our position that the OSDs are neither adequate nor sustainable in responding to the systemic and deep-seated structural flaws in the current remuneration system in the public service. Hence, as COSATU we believe that nothing short of a systematic overhaul of the entire remuneration system will adequately respond to the challenges of transformation and effective service delivery and this must be addressed in conjunction with: the filling of all funded vacancies -  redress of understaffing, the alignment of human resource needs to priority areas of service delivery, the redress of under-resourcing of departments and budget over-runs, and the improvement in the conditions of work.

Such a comprehensive approach will go a long way in positioning government to better respond to the challenges set out in the ANC Manifesto, in particular the five priorities to which the COSATU members and the overwhelming majority of our people have responded with a resounding endorsement and support in the 2009 elections.

COSATU is painfully aware and concerned about the devastating impact of the current global economic crisis on our economy including the effect this has on the capacity of government to implement its plans. However, we are also equally aware of the severity of the impact this crisis is having on the livelihoods of all workers and their families, including workers in the public service. We are therefore convinced that expediting the implementation of outstanding matters of the Resolution 1 of 2007, responding to these comprehensive demands to strengthen the public service for implementation of the national priorities would make a critical contribution in the overall national response to the crisis.

In order to restore some confidence in the collective bargaining process and to calm the workers in the sector, COSATU is intervening in the situation by making the following calls:

For an urgent meeting with government, in particular with the relevant ministries such as the Minister of Finance, Public Service and Administration, Correctional Services, Education, Justice, Police, Health and Social Development, in order to urgently address the implementation of all the OSDs across the public service and the implementation of all the outstanding aspects of the Resolution 1 of 2007.

For the immediate commencement of the negotiations round of 2009 collective bargaining process to ensure real improvement in the wages and conditions of service for public service workers and to lay a basis for the transformation of the sector.

For calm and patience on the part of workers across all sections of the public sector and on all General Secretaries and the collective leaderships of all unions to urgently take charge of the negotiation processes in their sectors and to timeously inform their members on developments as the engagements proceed.

For all the unions in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) and all the sectoral councils to unite and work together to find amicable solutions in the interests of all workers in the public service.

The National Office Bearers of COSATU will be monitoring this situation closely to ensure that a speedy resolution is found to all the current disputes. We call on the leadership of government at national level and in all provinces to act with the necessary urgency to avert what is clearly a ticking time bomb.

The following letter was sent by COSATU to the ministers listed on 20 May 2009

Minister of Public Service and Administration - Honourable Richard Baloyi
Minister of Health - Honourable Dr PA Motsoaledi
Minister of Higher Education - Honourable Dr Blade Nzimande
Minister of Basic Education - Honourable Angie Motshekga
Minister of Justice - Honourable Jeff Radebe
Minister of Social Service - Honourable Edna Molewa
Minister of Correctional Services - Honourable Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Minister of Police - Honourable Nathi Mthethwa
Minister of Finance - Honourable Pravin Gordhan

Dear Minister

RE: request for a meeting: Occupational Specific Dispensations (OSDs) within your departments

The COSATU National Office Bearers met with the National Office Bearers of all the COSATU-affiliated unions organising in your departments to review the recent incidents involving unprotected strike actions by the doctors and the threats by some health workers to embark on solidarity strike action in support of their own demands and those of the doctors.

After assessing this situation we are of the view that there is a looming crisis across the public service. The failure to implement Resolution 1 of 2007 in general and the Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSDs) in particular, in a number of departments, including yours, have created a crisis that requires urgent attention and action at the political level. I have been asked by these unions to write on their behalf and ask for an urgent political meeting with you collectively to discuss this crisis and our general approach to the collective bargaining season in the coming year.

We are also aware that departments have tabled proposals, and negotiations are continuing in various chambers. After assessing the overall situation we are of the view that these chambers and the coming negotiations will not bridge the credibility gap that has opened up. Frankly, we are all sitting on a ticking bomb that may explode at any time. What we face may be on the same scale as the 1973 Durban strikes that engulfed the country in the private sector.  This could now happen in the public sector. The agitation around the doctors' strike and the seething anger in the whole service is a sign that we are living on borrowed time.

We had thought that we could also use the proposed meeting to talk about the minimum service agreement and transitional matters imposed by the reconfigured cabinet. The Alliance Transitional Management Task Team had proposed the meeting.

We request that on the first matter all ministers receive briefings from the departments on the OSD processes. This briefing will help all ministers, in particular those who have not been involved in the processes, to appreciate the problems and where the processes are. The meeting should be held within the next seven days, but not later than Friday 29 May 2009. We would also appreciate if you could coordinate your response in terms of availability through the Minister of Public Service and Administration, the honourable Richard Baloyi.

Hoping for your urgent response.

Yours comradely

Zwelinzima Vavi

General Secretary

Statement issued by COSATU, May 21 2009

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