By: Siphiwe Ngcongco
The national strike by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) continued unabated this week as the union protested against a 3% salary increase and austerity measure introduced by the Government.
The union’s Northern Cape chapter also joined in the strike by picketing outside gates of the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley since Monday.
The union’s members came in their numbers. They chanted and burnt tyres, closing entrances at government departments including Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital as well as the Department of Education offices and the South African Social Services Agency in Du Toitspan road.
This Department of Public Service and Administration served the union with an interdict obtained from the Labour Court to prohibit the protest from happening.
The government offered a three-percentage increase which the union rejected in favour of a ten percent demand.
Moleme Moleme, NEHAWU provincial secretary, said: “Despite our grievances which we submitted last year, nothing has been resolved while our livelihoods are being negatively impacted since food prices and petrol seem to be progressively increasing.”
The union deems it fair for the government to accord them a 10% wage increase.
Moleme explained: “It does not make sense for the government to convert R1000 of a cash gratuity into a salary increase. That is an insult. This fight has been going on since 2018 and for government to advise unions to go back to the collective bargaining chamber to negotiate and resolve the matters through dialogue shows dishonesty.”
Geoffrey van der Merwe said the Northern Cape Department of Education has also been affected by the public strike by Nehawu. The strike has impacted on the work and operations of a number of government departments and state institutions.
“Members of Nehawu have since Monday blockaded all the entrances of the Department of Education’s provincial office and those in Frances Baard as well as the John Taolo Gaetsewe and Pixley Ka Seme District offices.
Officials are unable to perform their duties, as they don’t have access to their offices and feel threatened and intimidated by the manner in which some Nehawu members conduct themselves. The situation is uncertain and volatile at this stage and we are not sure when this strike action will end. We are monitoring the situation closely”.
Meanwhile, Walter Hoosen, general secretary of the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (HOSPERSA), condemned acts of intimidation and threats of violence towards their affiliates across provinces following complaints from its members.
“HOSPERSA is not part of the strike. Its members are at work. But they are being intimidated and prevented from working”, he said.
Hoosen urged employers to protect their workers under the Occupational Health and Safety Act following threats from striking union members who prevented them from entering or exiting work premises across provinces.
Moleme denied the allegations by Hoosen. Moleme stated that HOSPERSA members from Kimberley voluntarily joined in the strike.
He further Stated that the strike would continue until the union and the government reached a resolution.
Roma Nna media had not received a response from the Department of Health and Public Service and Administration by the time of publication.
Comments are closed.