THE country’s largest health sector union, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), has vowed to wage war with government over salary increases for public servants.
This comes after comments by Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu on Thursday that the government simply has no money to implement a wage increase for public servants.
Mchunu made it clear government is standing by its zero percent salary increase, with government and labour returning to the Bargaining Council today.
Nehawu accused Mchunu of returning to negotiations in bad faith and has proven beyond doubt that government cannot be trusted.
“We lost trust in our democratically elected government when it started to renege on binding collective agreements,” said Nehawu spokesperson Khaya Xaba.
“While the Minister insisted that we should allow the Council to deliberate and conclude on the ongoing salary negotiations, that did not stop him from using the media to negotiate and try guilt trip labour into reversing the gains of workers.
“We view his little stunt as part of the broader agenda of undermining collective bargaining by the government of the day. The national union vows to fight until the bitter end to defend collective bargaining which did not come on a silver platter in this country.”
Currently workers are demanding a consumer price inflation increase plus 4%.
Unions are also demanding a risk allowance of 12%, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nehawu warns that these workers and millions of others, are gearing up for a mass strike, should the negotiations deadlock.
“The drums of war have been beaten by our government for far too long and it is about time we give them what they have been yearning for which is a mother of all fights. Judging by the tone of the Minister it is clear that government negotiators will bring a 0% salary increase once again tomorrow,” said Xaba.
“This leaves us with no option but to seek a strike certificate while preparing for a full blown strike. NEHAWU will engage other COSATU public sector unions in the Joint Mandating Committee (JMC) so that we begin in earnest to prepare for a fight to defend collective bargaining, workers’ rights and decent salaries and benefits.”
- Inside Politics