Mass strike action planned for May

By George Luanja
30 April 2007

The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) has welcomed the decision of its sister union the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) to join it in a nationwide strike by the end of May this year.

The two unions have resolved to demonstrate about the growing anger of public service workers against what they call their employers’ ideological fixation with CPIX policy which they say can only pin worker's wages down.

The unions say they will refuse to work by embarking on an indefinite strike until such time when their employers offer a living wage for all workers.

The unions have also called upon all public service unions to remain united in their collective demands and join them in the rolling mass action leading up to the strike in May.

Among their demands, the unions want a 12 percent wage increase, vacant posts to be filled, staffing levels to be increased, and a review of medical aid and housing benefits.