Public service unions in
Swaziland / eSwatini are set to strike on 16 September 2019, if they can get
permission of the courts to do so.
Swaziland is ruled by
absolute monarch King Mswati III and is not a democracy and industrial action can
be stopped by the Industrial Court.
The unions are in a
long-running dispute about pay increases to cover the rise in the cost of
living. They had planned the strike last year and again in January 2019 but the
Industrial Court ruled that it was ‘political’ because the strike-call
referred to the government’s bad handling of the economy.
The government says it
cannot afford to pay increases. Last month the Industrial Court confirmed the
strike was illegal but also
noted in its judgement that a
strike that was called only for the purposes of gaining increased wages was
not.
At a meeting on Tuesday (6
August 2019), four unions united as the Public Sector Associations (PSA),
decided on the date. They were the National Public Service and Allied Workers
Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Swaziland
Nurses Association (SNA) and the Swaziland Government Accountants Personnel
(SNAGAP).
After the meeting SNAT
Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini, told the
Times of Swaziland the PSA would be guided by the Industrial Court
ruling and prepare and issue new notices for the strike action slated for
September 16, 2019.
The unions are also
planning a series of other actions in the lead up to the strike.
The newspaper added,
‘Dlamini then highlighted why they resolved to engage in the proposed
industrial action. He said seemingly, government was not willing to reimburse
them the 14.5 percent which had been eroded by inflation rate from their
salaries during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years. He said in 2017/18
financial year, the erosion, was 7.85 percent while in the 2018/19 year it
stood at 6.55 percent.’
See also
Swaziland
Industrial Court paves way for public servants to strike legally
Swaziland
public service unions call national strike to march on government
Industrial
Court stops Swaziland public servants strike at last minute
Swaziland
public servants prepare for pay strike amid fears of renewed police violence
against them
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