South Africa’s main union representing health workers is to contest a court order banning it from taking industrial action.
Deputy Secretary General of The National Education Health Workers Union (NEHAWU), December Mavuso said its leadership was consulting lawyers over a “plan of action” after its intended strike was interdicted.
Mr Mavuso said the NEHAWU had planned to go on an indefinite strike from 6 March after serving a strike notice on 24 February.
It and other prominent public sector unions have been locked in a long-standing battle with the Government over wages.
In 2020, the Government reneged on the final year of a three-year salary agreement, saying it no longer had the money to pay.
In 2021-22, the parties reached a new agreement that included a R1,000 ($A81.33) non-pensionable allowance after tax, but months later talks deadlocked again, after the Government unilaterally implemented a three per cent pay increase plus the allowance, arguing this amounted to a seven per cent increase, which unions disputed.
“The strike planned for 6 March has been interdicted by a court order obtained by the Department of Public Service and Administration,” Mr Mavuso said.
“We are consulting lawyers and planning our next action.”
In a statement, the Department said it was still holding out hope that the wage impasse could be solved through collective bargaining processes and without interrupting service delivery.
“Government respects the rights of trade unions to organise and the rights of members to embark on peaceful and lawful protests, including pickets and strikes,” the Department said.
“However, it is our commitment to ensure that these hard fought for rights are discharged in a manner that does not disrupt service delivery, especially in relation to essential services such as health.”
It called on trade unions to “go back to the bargaining chamber” to “resolve matters through dialogue”.
Pretoria, 6 March 2023
