The Western Cape branch of Nehawu has announced that it will comply with a recent court order that bans essential service workers from going on strike.
The Labour Court issued this order on Monday to prevent union members from disrupting services at hospitals and social service offices. Despite being in the second week of a strike, Nehawu has committed to respecting the court’s decision, thereby avoiding contempt of court charges.
The union is calling for a 10% increase in wages, while the government is only offering 4.7%. Nehawu’s provincial chairperson, Baxolise Mali, has encouraged workers to exercise their constitutional right to strike without fear.
Meanwhile, the South African Policing Union (Sapu) is supporting Nehawu’s strike and also calling for a 10% wage increase. Sapu has said that its members will be withdrawing their labor starting on Friday.
Lesiba Thobakgale, a spokesperson for Sapu, has criticized the government for not adequately supporting public servants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite attempts at facilitation over the weekend, Thobakgale has expressed frustration with the government’s reluctance to engage in discussions about the current wage dispute.