Mbabane : The planned petition delivery by Public Sector Unions (PSUs) in Mbabane over the long-standing Notch 2 salary progression dispute hit a major snag this morning, after security interventions disrupted mobilisation efforts and halted parts of the programme.
Union members had set out early from various regions of the country, converging towards the capital city where they intended to formally present their petition to Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini and the Ministry of Public Service. However, the process was disrupted before it could be fully executed, with workers reporting that police blocked access routes and intercepted some of the transport vehicles en route to Mbabane.
In one of the incidents, buses carrying union members were allegedly stopped and occupants dispersed before reaching their destination. Some workers later regrouped and staged a brief demonstration at Mahlanya before being moved along by security officers.
Inside Mbabane, PSU leadership was also reportedly unable to convene as planned. Heavy police presence was deployed across key points in the city, preventing meetings and coordination efforts meant to finalise the petition delivery process. The situation effectively stalled the day’s planned engagement with government offices.
The PSUs membership later convened at SNAT centre.
The unions have linked the mobilisation to their central demand for the implementation of Notch 2 for qualifying civil servants, arguing that the adjustment is overdue under Government General Order A208. They maintain that all legal requirements for undertaking the industrial action had been followed.
Despite the disruptions, PSU leadership confirmed that the matter is far from over. The unions have now resolved to resume the petition process on Wednesday, with plans to return to the Cabinet Offices and the Ministry of Public Service to continue pressing their demands.
Leadership structures remain engaged at the SNAT Centre, where further briefings are expected as they coordinate the next steps. Some representatives were also reported to have made their way back to duty stations following the aborted attempt earlier in the day.
The unions described the setback as procedural rather than a termination of their action, insisting that their mobilisation remains intact and that members should remain prepared for further engagement.
The Notch 2 dispute has become a key point of contention between public sector workers and government, with unions arguing that eligible employees have remained stuck at lower salary notches despite established progression frameworks. The issue has sparked tensions amongst civil servants and government.
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