Cape Town – Public servants in the health sector are expected to return to work on Thursday after the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) suspended its protest over wage increase.
Workers affiliated to Nehawu downed tools last Monday in a bid to force government back to the negotiating table over increases for the 2022/23 financial year.
Union members were demanding a salary increase of 10-12% instead of the offered 4.7%.
Nehawu confirmed the suspension of the week-long trike in a statement on Wednesday.
Some public sector unions have agreed to return to the negotiation table and put on hold the strike led by Nehawu. The strike saw healthcare services disrupted at various facilities across SA. @N_Ayanda speaks to Nehawu president Mike Shingange.
Watch: https://t.co/ZoSmBEoGXs pic.twitter.com/aizZrwyw5v
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 16, 2023
“Our members and workers have demonstrated their commitment to defend their rights and the collective bargaining, appreciating the dire implications of the persistence of this tendency in the broader public sector as well as the private sector.
“It is within this background that the union is now announcing the suspension of the public service strike,” the union said.
It added: “Through the strength of the workers’ power, we managed to ensure that the government goes back to the bargaining council to negotiate salary increases for the year 2022/23, something that up to now government arrogantly said was concluded and closed. In this regard, an agreement was concluded on the augmentation of the 2022/23 increment in the settlement agreement.”
The strike disrupted a number of healthcare facilities across the country and, according to Minister of Health Joe Phaahla, at least four patients died “in a manner that could be directly attributed to the strike”.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
