The New Age reports that the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) brokered a truce last night following an acrimonious two-week strike that put the health of millions at risk.
Nehawu’s spokesperson Khaya Xaba said the NHLS and the union agreed on a 7.3% wage hike and the phasing out of outsourcing. He stated that a ceasefire was brokered in the interest of averting a further crisis and added that they had initially wanted a wage increase of 14%, but revised it down to 7.3%. According to Xaba, an important aspect of the deal was that they agreed to phase out the outsourcing of workers. The union has taken a decision to suspend the national strike with immediate effect pending the finalisation of the settlement agreement. Meantime, Acting CEO of the NHLS, Shabir Madhi, said the cash-strapped organisation was owed an estimated R8bn by the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal health departments and sunk deeper into debt as a result of outsourcing laboratory services during the duration of the strike.
- Read this report by Bonolo Selebano and Lerato Diale in full at The New Age
- Read Nehawu’s press statement in this regard at Cosatu Today
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page