Nehawu calls off strike

AFTER three days of negotiations with the Department of Water and Sanitation, the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has called off its national strike.

Nehawu general secretary, Zola Saphetha, made the announcement yesterday, saying workers would return to work within 24 hours.

“As Nehawu, we are elated to confirm that after just three days of the strike, a resounding settlement agreement was reached in favour of its members and workers in general,” Saphetha said.

The strike started last Thursday in all 53 workplaces of the department after negotiations were deadlocked.

Nehawu demanded that issues surrounding safety, insourcing and corruption be addressed.

The union insisted the department had depleted its budget as a result of corruption.

As part of a settlement agreement, the department agreed to pay the outstanding 68% of bonuses and promotions for last year to all qualifying employees.

Both parties agreed to implement the new conditions of employment for construction employees.

These conditions will be reviewed every 24 months going forward and a Consultative Chamber Task Team would be established by the department bargaining chamber to process issues such as occupational health and safety standards in the department; inducting employees on new conditions of employment; transport and accommodation, modalities of insourcing all outsourced services, prioritising cleaning and security; and improving working conditions.