National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union

2023 - 3 - 12

Nehawu threatens to intensify crippling public service workers' strike (News24)

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union has announced its wage protest will continue from Monday. It wants a 10% wage increase while the ...

"Indeed, this government continues to show us the middle finger and display high level of arrogance as it is totally disregarding the plight of workers even with this ongoing facilitation process at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council, hence the strike continues until the government accede to our demands," said Nehawu. "With this arrogance displayed by government, it is important to confirm that Nehawu continues with the strike in a more intensified manner as from tomorrow, Monday the 13th March 2023 to demonstrate to government the seriousness with which we take the concerted effort to underplay the role and significance of public servants who are at the coalface of service delivery." It said it organised the presser to update members, public service workers and the public about the latest developments of the strike.

Health workers blame continued strike on government for showing ... (Daily Maverick)

Nehawu has vowed to intensify its week-long strike on Monday until the government accedes to its demands.

“As Nehawu, we want to put the employer on notice that we are now in consultation with our lawyers over this imposition of 3% for the 2022/23 financial year. “When we call workers on strike in the health sector, it is those that do not fall under the essential services that go on strike. “We realise the impact of a strike in that service, so that’s why we then arrange that kind of a meeting… People are made to believe that anything and everything in the sector is essential services,” he said. This was despite the fact that there was no resolution for that financial year, but rather a unilateral implementation of the 3%, which was way below the CPI,” he said. We don’t want to interfere with the investigation by pronouncing now, because there’s a serious allegation [that has been] made,” he said. Again, this is another demonstration of how far the government is prepared to undermine and collapse collective bargaining and dispute resolution mechanisms by imposing their will on workers,” Saphetha said. As such, the unions currently not part of the 2023/24 round of collective bargaining would return to the council and participate fully; “The 2022/23 offer is still in dispute, hence our strike. to try and break the impasse or the strike action that commenced on 6 March 2023.” “The strike has registered some victories, key amongst them is the PSCBC facilitation process which forces the government to go back to 2022/23 discussions on salaries of public service. On Friday, 10 March, the Labour Appeal Court heard our appeal on the execution order of the interdict by DPSA and after hearing all arguments it reserved judgment until Monday, 13 March 2023.

Nehawu vows to intensify public sector strike (Citizen)

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) has vowed to intensify its public service strike from Monday.

Saphetha said government was offering public servants an “insulting” 0.5% salary increase. Public servants affiliated with the union have been staging countrywide protests since last Monday over a wage dispute with government. [More people will die if Nehawu strike escalates](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/protests/nehawu-strike-escalates-march-2023/) [Nehawu](https://www.citizen.co.za/tag/nehawu/)‘s appeal application on the enforcement order of the interdict by the DPSA. [four people have died](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/at-least-four-dead-nehawu-strike/) as a result of the strike action, according to a preliminary report by the national Department of Health. [ ‘Nehawu strike may not last long’ – Wage deal on the cards?](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/protests/nehawu-strike-may-wage-deal-march-2023/)

Nehawu is harming innocent patients (Johannesburg Sunday World)

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) protesters have justified the mayhem and violence at public hospitals.

No effort is spared to go to the ends of the earth to find a cure to save a life or palliatives to ease pain and human suffering. A health facility, in the circumstances, is their only place of refuge to help them to recuperate. When Covid-19 invaded the world between 2019 and 2021, efforts worldwide were devised to find a cure to save lives. To repeat the obvious, they depend on the skill of doctors, specialists, nurses, and other supporting staff such cleaners, clerks porters, for their well-being and survival. Does this not tell us that to violently invade public hospitals, and cause panic among medical staff and patients, is to contradict the solidarity pledge we make to each other – something that ought to be seen as a badge of honour worn on our sleeves with pride and reverence. Does the leadership of Nehawu in its conferences or meetings not think about these matters?

Nehawu ups strike, says state is 'arrogant' (SowetanLIVE)

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) has promised to intensify the strike as it enters a second week of hospital workers downing ...

Health Department assesses service disruption as Nehavu strike ... (SABC News)

SPrtesting NEHAWU affiliated union members holding up a placard demanding a 10% salary hike. The National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) ...

Health Minister [Joe Phaahla linked at least 4 deaths to the strike](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/phaahla-links-four-deaths-to-nehawus-wage-strike/). Nehawu says negotiations at the bargaining council to try to bring the strike to an end have failed as the workers continue with their call for a 10% wage increase. [Despite numerous interdicts, the strike got off ](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/court-interdicts-striking-nehawu-members/)last week, with widespread reports of deaths and disruption to the country’s health systems.

Nehawu threatens legal action against government over wage talks ... (Eyewitness News)

The health department said that operations at health facilities were still compromised as employees were determined to return to the picket lines.

"If no new agreement is reached 31 March 2022 on the 2022/23 salary adjustment, this non-pensionable cash allowance shall remain in force until a new agreement is entered to by parties. JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Health said that operations at health care facilities were still affected by the low turnout of employees who threatened to strike again on Monday morning. The health department said that operations at health facilities were still compromised as employees were determined to return to the picket lines.

5 important things happening in South Africa today (BusinessTech)

Intensifying strike: The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) says strikes will intensify this week. The union wants a 10% wage ...

On Monday (13 March), the rand was trading at R18.21/$, R19.51/€, and R22.06/£. - Naspers cuts back on SA tech: Naspers is closing its R1.4 billion SA-focused technology investment fund, Foundry, as the group cuts down on operations. The department of electricity was the worst offender, spending R1 billion in overtime pay over the five years. - Surgery with torches: Surgeons at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape have to use their cellphone torches when operating on patients due to load shedding. [ Health Minister Joe Phaahla previously said that four deaths could be directly attributed to the strike, however, Nehawu’s general secretary, Zola Saphetha said that the allegations were misplaced and that the government should shoulder the blame for the lives lost due to the strike.

National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union

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