News24 reports that after a day of successful national protesting by employees, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) strike could come to an end after the Department of Health brought significant offers to the table.  

National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) spokesperson Khaya Xaba said that the Department of Health (DOH) had matched a number of their demands, including a salary increase of 7.3%.  "We are going to take this and other offers they have made back to the workers and see if they accept it.  There are however a number of other issues that still need to be resolved," Xaba indicated, adding that their primary concern was that solid timelines be set to ensure implementation.  He urged workers to continue their striking on Thursday.  DOH spokesperson Joe Maila called on unions to reconsider their position "as a matter of national interest" and expressed the hope that the parties would be able to find each other.

• Read this report by Kaveel Singh in full at News24
• Read too, NHLS to outsource priority services amid strike, at EWN

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page