South African public sector unions and the government recently signed a 7.5% wage agreement, thus ending a tumultuous tug-of-war between the capitalist state and organised labour.
However, a group of unions with a minority vote in the Public Services Collective Bargaining Council are refusing to sign the deal, although it will go through because of majority rule. Among the unions is the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), which was recently on strike.
The unions are unhappy and feel tricked and short-changed by the ANC, the governing party and the employer.
There is an age-old confidence trick called “three
