Workers protest at premier’s office after lack of response to demands

A small number of Nehawu-affiliated workers protested outside Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane’s office on Monday as part of the national campaign to put pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa to meet their demands.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) embarked on a nationwide protest, demanding Ramaphosa respond to their demands, including giving workers salary hikes, dating back to April.

Failure to meet their demands would result in a full-blown national public sector strike, the union warned.

The union submitted its demands to the national government in August but says it never received any feedback.

Nehawu also demanded a risk allowance for front-line workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nehawu Eastern Cape deputy chair Skonzile Mazwi said the government had failed to meet their seven-day deadline after submitting the demands in August.

“Salary increases were due in April this year and that never happened. This is affecting all the public sector employees, not a few.

“Vacant posts need to be filled and not only for the health department but other departments as well. We want progress in all spheres of government.”

In June, Nehawu, Sadtu, Popcru, Denosa and Sapu declared a dispute on the interpretation and application of the bargaining council agreement.

The unions, with the exception of Sapu referred the dispute to arbitration.

Nehawu’s national leaders said a total of 32,429 health workers had contracted the virus while 257 had lost their lives as of September 11, according to statistics provided by the national health department.

On Monday, Nehawu said in a statement: “In this regard, we will not fold our arms while we are losing our members while government continues to insult workers by refusing to implement resolution one of 2018 especially clause 3.3 [which refers to salary increments].

“These protests will run concurrently with the ongoing lunch-hour demonstrations and mobilisation for the complete withdrawal of our labour power in all sectors we organise if our demands are not acceded to by the president.”

Ramaphosa’s acting spokesperson, Tyrone Seale, said: “We can confirm the receipt of the memorandum and we will address it with the health department.”

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