PSA prepares for “full-blown” strike at SITA
A full-blown strike at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) by members of the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) seems unavoidable as a meeting with SITA management has failed to yield progress or a solution to the impasse in salary negotiations.
The PSA, representing the majority of SITA employees, had hoped that the meeting on 11 October 2023 would result in parties meeting each other halfway and reach mutual agreement to avoid strike action that will affect various government departments. It is, however, clear that there is no interest by SITA to resolve the matter.
It was expected that SITA management would table an improved offer on the initial 4.5%. Instead, they came to the meeting with a new blank proposal of a multi-term agreement. The proposal does not contain any figures or percentages. In view of this, the PSA has decided to intensify the protest action, which will ultimately result in full-blown strike action. PSA members are participating in numbers in the industrial action and have commenced with lunchtime picketing.
The PSA’s salary demand remains at 7.5% with the warning to SITA management that it must take full responsibility for the resulting disruption of information technology services in various government departments, including the Department of Home Affairs.
