The Citizen reports that on Monday the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) was “still studying” a scathing Labour Court judgment in which the judge slammed the union for dragging the health department to court for a case that was “misconceived in fact and law”.  

Judge Benita Whitcher hauled the union over the coals at the weekend when she handed down her reasons for dismissing the case.  Earlier this month, Nehawu raced to court claiming hospital workers on the frontlines of the fight against Covid-19 were not being provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  Whitcher heard the case last Wednesday, after refusing Nehawu’s last-minute bid to withdraw it.  The judge found that the union had failed to produce any evidence to support its claims.  On the other hand, she found that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, together with his MECs, had provided “comprehensive data and documentary evidence” to disprove the claims.  “[Nehawu’s] allegations of PPE shortages in hospitals that unduly expose its members to Covid-19 infection weigh up poorly against the [department’s] denials,” the judge said.  In a rare move in the Labour Court, the judge slapped the union with a costs order.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bernadette Wicks at The Citizen

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page