TMG Digital reports that the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the Department of Social Development have entered into an agreement to end the five-week social services strike.  This followed lengthy overnight negotiations.  

Nehawu’s Khaya Xaba said on Wednesday:  "We signed the agreement at around 3am and we started negotiations at 11am yesterday (Tuesday)."  Although an agreement has been reached‚ Xaba said the difficult task of demobilising workers still had to be done:  "We still need to iron out our issues in relation to our members and see if they agree to the terms.  Emotions are high.”  The union had laid out 13 demands before the department following failed attempts to have these met in August 2015.  Among these were higher entry-level salaries for department employees and the introduction of rural allowances.  The department is now expected to approach the National Treasury and the Department of Public Service and Administration in terms of the agreement.

• Read this report by Roxanne Henderson in full at BusinessLive

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