PM’S DATE WITH UNIONS

MANZINI – Unlike in yesteryears, public sector unions will get a chance to speak directly to the prime minister. Infact, in what could be termed as a rare occasion; the newly-appointed Prime Minister (PM), Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, has invited leaders of Public Sector Associations (PSAs) to a meeting.
The invitation was sent to the secretary generals PSAs through the Ministry of Public Service yesterday.

Even though the agenda remains unknown, it is a known fact that the PSAs have been hounding government regarding their cost of living adjustment (CoLA) and it is anticipated that this issue will be raised during the meeting.

There are four PSAs in the country and they are; Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU), National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) and Swaziland National Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP).
The invitation letter was titled; ‘Invitation to a courtesy meeting’ and it was signed by the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service, Evart Madlopha.

It said following the assumption of office of the new Executive arm of government for the 2018-2023 tenure, the leaders of PSAs were kindly invited to attend a courtesy meeting with the PM. According to the letter, the meeting, which will be held at Cabinet Offices, is scheduled for Friday at 10am.
“Your usual cooperation is anticipated and appreciated in this regard,” reads part of the letter.

Some of the PSA leaders confirmed receiving the communiqué yesterday morning from the PS in the Ministry of Public Service, who is also the chairman of the joint negotiation forum (JNF).
The unions’ leaders said they did not want to pre-empt anything but they were happy to receive the invitation and promised to honour it.
“Since it is a first of its kind, we need to hear what the premier has to say,” said one of the union leaders.

Analysis

Furthermore, they said according to their own analysis, this was a good move because the PM would get to know them better as the leader of the new government.
“Who knows, maybe we will be offered a chance to narrate our plight, something which we hope will happen,” said another union leader.
Meanwhile, the PS in the Ministry of Public Service, Madlopha, said even though he was afraid to speak about issues from the PM’s office, he did carry out an instruction to invite leaders of PSAs to a meeting with the premier.

“Kuvusela nje (he will be greeting them),” the PS said.
He added there was nothing different with this particular invitation as the PM has met and greeted a number of factions from different sectors since assuming office.

“Kuvusela emabandla nje (it’s just meeting the different factions only),” Madlopha emphasised.
However, it is worth noting that this invitation comes at a time when civil servants, especially those organised under PSAs, were expecting that since there was a new government, their leaders would be called to the round table to resume salary talks.

Members of the unions, especially teachers, have made it clear that they would keep a close eye on the new government as they expected a reasonable offer before November 23, 2018. This is the date to which the court deferred the teachers’ strike  and said by then there would be a new government in place to address their issues.

Civil servants are demanding 6.55 per cent cost-of-living-adjustment (CoLA) for the 2018/19 financial year but government offered them zero per cent increment. Worth noting is that this was the second consecutive year government tabled the same offer as same took place during the 2017/18 negotiations where the workers first demanded 9.15 per cent pay rise. However, as the negotiations continued, the unions slashed their demand to 8.75 per cent but government maintained its offer. As a result, the two parties reached a deadlock.

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