By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Public Service and Administration has been granted an interdict to prevent National Education Health Workers’ Union (Nehawu) from joining a planned strike this week.
A coalition of disgruntled public service unions are set to embark on an indefinite strike from March 6 in support of their demands for above-inflation increases.
The unions, representing thousands of the more than 1.3-million public servants, have refused to take part in the 2023/2024 wage talks which began at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) recently.
The DPSA said it received a strike notice from the health and educators union on 24 February 2023.
“Government respects the rights of trade unions to organise and the rights of members to embark on peaceful and lawful protests, including pickets and strikes,” said the department in a statement.
“It is the commitment of government to ensure that these hard fought for rights are discharged in a manner that does not disrupt service delivery, especially in relation to essential services such as health,” it said.
DPSA said “matters of mutual interest” can still be resolved during the collective bargaining process at the appropriate forum established for such purpose.
Government will continue to call on all the trade unions to go back to the Bargaining Chamber to negotiate and resolve matters through dialogue,” it said.
One of Cosatu’s biggest affiliates – the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), and trade unions affiliated to Fedusa (Federation of Union South Africa), did not support the strike action, despite doing so last year.
Their affiliates now say they are ready to move on and begin talks on the 2023/24 settlement.