Western Province’s president Zelt Marais has lost his battle to stop an across-the-board increase in salaries.
Marais withdrew his opposition to the across the board increase days before WP was supposed to appear in front of the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) after a complaint by the Sports Employees Union (SEU).
The disagreement began when WP approved an across-the-board 5% increase for all staff members, but only implemented them for those who worked for the professional arm.
SEU lodged a complaint with the WPRU, who refused to institute the increase for their employees, leading to the dispute.
According to Afrikaans weekly Rapport, the increase would cost Western Province R16 000 a month extra to implement.
Marais was in the news before being elected last year when he called for a 25% salary reduction for all staff members, a proposal he later had to withdraw.
SEU head Piet Heymans confirmed that WP had agreed to institute the increase.
“The personnel are satisfied but there are a number of other areas that the WP management need to deal with too,” he said.