Nehawu to strike at government health laboratories
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) says its members are preparing for a strike at the National Health Laboratories (NHLS).
Nehawu spokesperson Khaya Xaba says the strike is over adjusted salary levels promised to workers a year ago.
"As Nehawu, we find it unacceptable that the NHLS management has elected to defend unfair labour practices by discriminating against our members and workers who successfully appealed for their salary levels to be upgraded, despite an impartial expert committee recommending that these workers must be progressed.
"Moreover, the management has failed to implement a proper Performance Management and Development System [PMDS] and as things stand, our members and workers are still waiting for their long overdue payments," says Xaba.
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He is slamming the NHLS for not granting members a 2020/2021 salary increase.
“The NHLS management instead of uplifting the spirit of workers in this critical sector responsible for COVID-19 testing for most South Africans [the poor in particular], has decided to arrogantly show workers the middle finger instead of giving what is due to workers which is decent
“This is nothing short of recklessness and has plummeted the morale of our members who are sacrificing their lives to ensure that our people are able to receive their tests results on time for proper and timeous clinical management of COVID-19 and other infections/diseases such as Tuberculosis and HIV.”
Nehawu has since obtained a non-resolution certificate from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration [CCMA] which will see the union embark on strike action.