State reneges on job deal

2003-02-04 19:42

Pretoria - A major public service union accused the government on Tuesday of reneging on a 2001 agreement to create 20 000 posts in key civil service sectors.

The Public Servants Association of SA (PSA) said state negotiators admitted in a bargaining council meeting last month that no funds had been allocated for these posts.

"While the government fails to deliver in terms of the agreement, large numbers of public servants are facing redeployment and even possible retrenchments," PSA general manager Anton Louwrens said in Pretoria.

"Their logic boggles the mind."

The Department of Public Service and Administration denied the PSA's assertions, saying the 2001 accord provided for the posts to be created over three years.

"So, the process will only come to an end by December next year. We are not going to abdicate our responsibility," departmental spokeswoman Thembela Kulu said.

Louwrens said the October 2001 deal between the state and unions provided for 20 000 new posts in departments responsible for matters such as education, health, welfare, and safety and security.

No time frame was agreed upon, he said.

"Since the signing of the agreement, the government has been very evasive regarding the number of posts that has been created."

Its silence on the issue indicated the government had no intention of honouring the agreement, Louwrens said.

Kulu insisted the deal was being put into effect, but said it was difficult to provide numbers.

A restructuring agreement struck with unions in May last year stipulated that departments wishing to create posts under the 2001 accord had to submit their staffing plans by November.

"They have made their representations and we are going to carry out the 2001 deal," Kulu said.

Before May last year, departments were free to advertise for posts as they wished, and some critical positions have been filled in this way, Kulu said.

"But the change in procedure makes it difficult to give precise numbers."

Kulu said there had been no single budget allocation for the 20 000 posts. The approach was to give departments an annual allocation for creating posts under the 2001 deal.

"We have no intention of not sticking to our agreement with the unions," she said.

- SAPA