By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Cape Town Labour Court has granted the Western Cape government an interdict against public servants affiliated with the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu).
Nehawu and several other public servant unions have been at odds with the government over wage disputes.
Civil servants affiliated to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) have been on strike since Monday across the country despite a court interdict obtained by the government which barred the action.
The union is demanding a salary increase of between 10 and 12% while the government is offering an increase of 4.7%.
The Western Cape Department of Health said that since the start of the week incidents of protest led by Nehawu had disrupted services mainly in the Khayelitsha area.
Health facilities affected included the Michael Mapongwana Clinic and Khayelitsha District Hospital.
The strike has affected other departments, including Home Affairs and Social Development, and other hospitals countrywide.
The Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) has urged labour and government to engage in a mediation process to end the strike.
Meanwhile Government has condemned the disruptive actions of some protesting workers at some government facilities.
“The government condemns the disruptive actions displayed yesterday and continuing today by some members of trade unions at some health and other government facilities around the country,which affected access to urgently required health care by citizens whose right to life and health is constitutional,” the Department of Public Service and Administration said on Friday.
The department said government is concerned about protests that are currently ongoing in the country and are taking on a nature that is not reflective of defending democracy and human rights.
“Government welcomes the call by the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) for all parties involved in the public service wage negotiations to return to the bargaining council to continue with negotiations.
The department said the principle of no work no pay will apply to public servants taking part in the strike during working hours.