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In an interview yesterday, PSA president, Mrs Cecilia Alexander said the only ideal way forward was to get an independent mediator to bring peace among the civil servants’ unions and map the way forward.
Apex Council president, Mr David Dzatsunga, however, said the process might present more problems.
Mrs Alexander said: “We are going to meet tomorrow as PSA to see the way forward but the only ideal way forward is to get an independent mediator to help us progress to the final stage of choosing negotiators to represent civil servants in salary negotiations with the Government.
“If we have an independent mediator, the ground would be level and all stakeholders will respect each other,” she said.
Mrs Alexander said the Apex Council, which wanted to dictate the whole process, was creating the major setback.
“Our colleagues are dictators. This is an issue that needs only a day for us to move forward, but we are failing to do so because the Apex Council wants to dictate everything. After all, the Apex Council is not a constitutional body.
“It is high time people realised that this is not about them, but all the civil servants. The issue of civil servants’ salaries should be given the attention it deserves. We really need to come together and come up with a solution as soon as possible.
“However, I am hopeful that by the end of this week, we would have come up with a solution that will benefit the civil servants. As PSA, we have been trying to negotiate for civil servants’ salaries, but there were some technicalities that were beyond our control,” she said.
Mr Dzatsunga said the proposal to get an independent mediator was only going to complicate things.
“The proposal to find a mediator to look into the issue will only complicate the process. It might present a lot more problems.
“We are, however, consulting other Apex Council members to see if the proposal is acceptable,” said Mr Dzatsunga.
He said the Apex Council would soon discuss the way forward, as it was under pressure from Government workers.
Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga advised the civil servants’ unions to resolve their differences and agree on who will represent them in salary negotiations.
There have been no salary negotiations for the past 12 months due to squabbles among the civil servants’ unions.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu