Mbabane : Government has moved to reassert control over the ongoing Notch 2 salary dispute by inviting Public Sector Unions (PSUs) to a fresh round of negotiations.
This invitation comes in the wake of high tensions following a disrupted petition delivery yesterday.
In a letter dated Tuesday, April 21, the Ministry of Public Service formally invited union leaders to attend a Joint Negotiations Forum (JNF) meeting scheduled for April 30 at 10:00am. The meeting is expected to focus on continuing discussions around the notching issue, with government expressing hope that the long-running matter can be brought to a conclusion.
The invitation, addressed to Secretaries General of unions including NAPSAWU, SNAT, SNA and SNAGAP, underscores government’s position that the dispute should be resolved within existing negotiation frameworks.
“The purpose of the meeting is to continue discussions on the notching issue, with the aim of reaching a conclusion on the matter,” reads the correspondence from the ministry.
The latest development follows Monday’s aborted attempt by PSU members to deliver a petition to the Ministry of Public Service and Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini in Mbabane. The petition sought the immediate implementation of Notch 2 for qualifying civil servants, in line with Government General Order A208.
In a statement issued on Monday, Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko said the planned petition was premature, maintaining that negotiations had not yet reached a deadlock.
“The Ministry acknowledges that the subject of notching remains under active deliberation within the framework of ongoing negotiation processes,” said Maseko. “At present, negotiations have not reached a deadlock, rendering any related actions premature, especially in light of the fact that negotiations are set to resume next week.”
Maseko also disclosed that the Prime Minister had extended an invitation to PSU leadership on Monday morning for dialogue, aimed at finding a mutually agreeable way forward while negotiations under the JNF continue.
“The invitation sought to initiate a meeting dedicated to promoting dialogue and establishing a mutually agreeable course of action,” he said.
Monday’s developments were marked by tension on the ground, as union members reported being prevented from accessing Mbabane to deliver their petition. Some buses transporting workers were allegedly intercepted, forcing members to abandon their journey, while others regrouped in areas such as Mahlanya.
The disruptions ultimately led to the postponement of the petition delivery, with unions indicating that they would regroup and continue their action on Wednesday.
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