Strike over Home Affairs working hours averted

THE National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) has signed an agreement with the Department of Home Affairs to avert an imminent strike over working hours at the department.

The union said it had persuaded the department to withdraw a rule which introduced new working hours.

“As a result, workers were forced to work under these unbearable working hours and, as a consequence, workers were subjected to disciplinary hearings while others were given leave without pay for not complying with the circular,” the union said yesterday.

“The signed agreement confirms the withdrawal of the circular and that workers will revert to the working conditions which applied prior to the introduction of the imposed new working hours by the department’s director-general.”

The dispute saw employees threatening to down tools and demanding overtime payment for working on Saturdays.

Nehawu argued Saturday work should not be compulsory for employees.

The department would not budge and said there would be no overtime for employees.

The union said it proposed the new agreement be tabled in the bargaining chamber. – ANA

Home Affairs employees were unhappy with new working conditions.