Public Service Strike Continues - NEHAWU Appeals The Labour courtRuling ON Enforcing The Interdict Against The Public Service Strike
Monday March 06, 2023
Public Service Strike Continues - NEHAWU Appeals The Labour courtRuling ON Enforcing The Interdict Against The Public Service Strike Monday March 06, 2023 The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] notes the ruling of the Labour Court granting the Department of Public Service and Administration [DPSA] leave to enforce the interdict of the public service strike.
In the aftermath of the national union filing a leave to appeal on the court order interdicting our strike, the DPSA urgently approached the court to file for an execution of the order. The matter was heard today at 09H00 and judgement was delivered at 14H00. The union subsequently launched an appeal at the Labour Appeal Court [LAC].
As NEHAWU, we believe that the Judge made an error of law in arriving at the determination of granting the leave to execute, and as such, the national union has launched an appeal on today’s judgement. We believe strongly that the LAC will arrive at a different conclusion on the matter.
Having launched an appeal of today's judgement, the national union will be forging ahead with the Public Service Strike until a determination is made on our appeal at the LAC.
As NEHAWU, we remain resolute that no amount of court intimidation by the government will deter us from this noble worthy cause that we have embarked on - fighting for public servants, defending collective bargaining and rights of workers. We shall not retreat no surrender. It's Aluta Continua.
Equally, we want to register our displeasure on the utterances of the nincompoop Acting Minister of the Department of Public Service and Administration, Mr Waltermade Nxesi in relation to the Public Service Strike.
The Acting Minister addressing a media briefing today, cast aspersions on the joint Public Service Unions that have embarked on the public service strike that we don't respect collective bargaining platforms such as the PSCBC, calling on us to resolve the dispute in an orderly manner, as if we have been disorderly by fighting for our rights as workers. It's the government under his leadership that decided to walkout of the negotiations last year and undermine collective bargaining through the unilateral implementation of 3% wage increase after it was rejected by majority unions at the PSCBC.
It's disingenuous of the Acting Minister to now suddenly call unions back to negotiations when it has been his department that disrespected the bargaining council by walking out of negotiations last year. The only reason, he is calling us back to negotiations is because of the backing he has received from yellow sweetheart unions, who are in cohort with government and off-late are the mouthpiece of government. We are not going to be party to such calls by the Acting Minister.
It's extremely shocking to hear such insinuations from a former trade unionist that moonlights as a communists. The posture of Nxesi towards workers confirms our long-held suspicion about him being a pseudo communist that has used the SACP and Trade Union Movement for his upward mobility.
Lastly, as NEHAWU, we call on Nxesi to cease with his anti-worker tendencies. Failure to do so, will leave us with no other option than take the battle directly to him. We are more than capable of doing that.
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968;
December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969;
Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za
Visit https://www.nehawu.org.za
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