Nehawu considering its next move after rejecting public sector wage deal
Union National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) said it’s mulling over its next move after some unions in the public sector signed the hotly contested 2023/24 wage agreement.
Nehawu is among the unions that refused to sign the deal accusing the government of reneging on the 2022/23 settlement agreement to end the disruptive strike at healthcare facilities in parts of the country earlier this month.
The union said among the terms of the agreement were promises to include the outstanding grievances in the fresh negotiations for the 2023/24 financial year.
A wage agreement has since been signed for 2023 but Nehawu said the government failed to honour the 2022 settlement agreement angering the union.
Four unions have refused to sign the government’s final wage offer of an average 7.5% for the 2023/24 financial year.
Nurses union Denosa (Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa), police unions Popcru (Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union), and the South African Policing Union (Sapu) have joined Nehawu’s rejection of the offer.
Despite snubbing the deal, the agreement will still take effect on 1 April after it won majority support from other unions in the public service coordinating bargaining council.
“It’s of course going to be binding to all of us and it’s unfortunate that it came to that point without us having actually concluded the dispute of 2022,” said Nehawu spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi.
Nkolonzi said the union is set to meet soon to decide on a way forward.
“And we are still going to be fighting for that, up until it has been concluded.”
Nkolonzi doesn’t dismiss the possibility of further strike action.
-EWN
In other news – Flashback Friday: Inside Lamiez Holworthy and Khuli Chana’s wedding
The two are one of Mzansi’s most loved couples. Lamiez Holworthy and Khuli Chana recently signed their marriage papers after announcing their pregnancy.
However, despite only singing recently, Khuli and Lamiez got married traditionally in 2019. Celebrating their one-year anniversary, Holworthy penned a heartfelt message on Instagram. “On this day a year ago, your uncles brought quite a few cows and the rest is history. Learn More
