The Public Servants Association (PSA) has accused GEMS of rushing through significant changes without proper negotiations, labelling the actions as disrespectful amid a looming medical aid crisis.
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The Public Servants Association (PSA) has accused the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) of acting in bad faith, claiming the scheme is "rushing" through major changes before meaningful negotiations with unions have even begun.
The fallout comes just days after GEMS announced a special "escape window" for struggling members and defended its 2026 contribution hikes by citing a R2 billion claims deficit.
In response, the PSA labelled GEMS' recent conduct as a direct insult to the collective bargaining process. The union is particularly aggrieved that GEMS has moved forward with 2026 contribution increases and the opening of a special option-selection window for Tanzanite One members, despite ongoing disputes.
"It is unacceptable for GEMS to take unilateral decisions that have financial implications for public servants whilst engagement with organised labour is still outstanding," the PSA stated. "This behaviour undermines trust, transparency, and the principle of good faith."
While GEMS recently argued that healthcare inflation far outstrips the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the PSA has shot down this defence as a justification for bypassing worker representatives.
The union argued that financial pressures on the scheme do not absolve it of its legal and moral responsibility to consult fully with unions before implementing decisions that hit the pockets of civil servants.
Even the "relief" offered to Tanzanite One members who have until April 9, 2026, to switch plans, has been characterised by the PSA as another example of a "unilateral rollout" occurring in a vacuum of unresolved labour demands.
The PSA is now calling for an immediate halt to all new implementations until formal talks are concluded.
While GEMS has committed to a bilateral meeting in the final week of March, the union remains sceptical of the timing.
"There is no logic in rushing this issue in the last week of March," the PSA noted, adding that GEMS' commitment to the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) currently feels like "lip service."
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