STAFF REPORTER
THE National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has announced that the union intends to intensify its public service strike action on Monday as it awaits a decision by the Labour Appeals Court for a judgement on the legality of the protests.
Nehawu’s Secretary-General Zola Saphetha said on Sunday that “no amount of litigation or intimidation by government will deter it from fighting for public servants, defending collective bargaining, and the rights of workers.”
Saphetha also accused government of misleading and confusing workers on its 4.7% wage offer.
Public sector workers, represented by nine unions, are demanding a 10% salary increase, a R2 500 housing allowance, and bursaries for their children.
The government has offered a 4.7% increase.
“We need to clarify that the percentage that the employer is actually offering is a mere 0.5 % due to the fact that the gratuity will now go into the baseline, which means that the workers are once again robbed by the government. In addition, the conversion of the R1 000 cash gratuity into a 4.2% wage increase to the pensionable baseline is going to be regressive and therefore at the expense of the workers in the lower salary levels,” said Saphetha.
The strike kicked off on last week Monday despite a ruling by the Labour Court in Johannesburg, which interdicted the protest action and further dismissed Nehawu’s appeal.
The strike has been slammed for last week’s violent protests at health facilities countrywide.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said government will not accept the violent nature of the Nehawu strike at various health facilities.
He was responding to a question from IFP Chief Whip Narend Singh during his Oral Reply session in Parliament.
“During this strike process, we have seen many act that are really concerning where people are sick and where workers who are in ICU units are being pulled out. That is not acceptable. And we should never accept behaviour like that. And we expect our health workers, yes to protest but at the same time put the lives of our people ahead of anything else. So, we expect that as we move forward, these messages will be heeded,” said Ramaphosa.
The dispute between public servants and government dates back to 2020, when government reneged on the final year of a three-year agreement.
In 2021/22, an agreement between the parties was reached, including an R1 000 (after tax) non-pensionable allowance. In 2022/23, talks deadlocked, and government unilaterally implemented a 3% increase as well as the gratuity, which it said amounted to a 7% increase.
Government has been determined to arrest the growth of the wage bill, which has outpaced CPI since 2008.
Slowing down the wage bill is a key part of the strategy of National Treasury to borrow less and bring debt service costs under control.
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