CAPE TOWN – The South African Revenue Service (Sars) on Friday said it was hoping unions would return to the negotiating table in a bid to avert strike action planned for next week following a collapse of wage talks.
Responding to a strike notice issued by the majority union, Public Servants Association (PSA), Sars spokesman Sandile Memela said: “Sars is still preparing to avoid a possible industrial action following the continued wage negotiation deadlock with organised labour.”
The PSA, which represents almost half of the workforce at Sars, is demanding a 11.4 percent salary increase, a single-term agreement and pay progression, among others.
However, Memela said the revenue service could not afford this.
“Despite the CCMA [Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration] certificate of non-resolution, Sars is hopeful that organised labour will reconsider the employer’s offer of seven percent which amounts to [Consumer Price Index] CPI plus three percent based on the published inflation rate. This is a very generous offer, far above what public institutions and most other industries give,” said Memela.