Nehawu Calls Off Strike After Achieving Wage Increase Demands

Public servants in the health sector will resume work on Thursday as the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) suspends its week-long protest over a wage increase.

Nehawu members had downed tools on Monday last week, demanding a salary increase of 10-12% instead of the government-offered 4.7% for the 2022/23 financial year.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Nehawu confirmed the suspension of the strike, saying, “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.”

The union further stated that “through the strength of the workers’ power,” they could ensure that the government returns to the bargaining council to negotiate salary increases for 2022/23, adding that the various parties reached an agreement on the augmentation of the increment.

The strike caused disruptions in various healthcare facilities across the country. In addition, it led to the deaths of four patients, as confirmed by Minister of Health Joe Phaahla.

Also read: Minister Phaahla: Nehawu Strike Causes Unnecessary Suffering and Frustration

Source: Nehawu suspends strike

Picture:  Image by Karelien Kriel from Pixabay