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The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] is currently on strike at the National Development Agency [NDA]. The strike comes as a result of failed wage negotiations during the 2018/19 wage negotiations at the NDA Bargaining Forum, which has been ongoing since April 2018. This subsequently led to a dispute which was declared by the union with the CCMA on Matters of Mutual Interest on the 2nd August 2018.
 
The matter was set down for conciliation at the CCMA on the 29th August 2018, the commissioner who presided over the matter tried to bring parties closer to one another by making a proposal that both parties were to present to their mandating structures and revert back to the extended conciliation as agreed upon between parties. The CCMA Conciliation was therefore extended to the 12th September 2018.
 
Following the constituency meeting held with our members on the 3rd September 2018, a report was given regarding the proposal by the commissioner and a mandate was subsequently given to accept this proposal. The union presented the above mandate during the extended CCMA Conciliation held on the 12th September 2018 as expected, needless to say that the commissioner’s offer was the basis upon which the Conciliation was extended and that both parties had agreed to revert back with a mandate so as to avoid a further impasse on the matter. To our surprise, the employer tabled a new proposal instead of responding to the commissioner’s offer. We view this tactic by employer as a continued display of self-serving antics and interests which undermine the union and its role in negotiating salaries and improved conditions of employment, more especially when the employer failed to account on its finances during the period of negotiations.
 
The union unequivocally rejected the employers offer on the 12th September 2018, and as a result; a certificate of non- resolution was issued on the account that the dispute remained unresolved. Consequently, the union served the NDA with a notice to strike on the 5th October 2018 and till date. The employer did nothing to avert the strike hence members did not report for duty but joined the picket lines. As an alternative, the employer has been intimidating our members through issuing letters which warn our members not to exercise their democratic right to strike. We would like to warn employer in the NDA not to undermine both the Constitution of the Republic and the Labour Relations Act (as amended) by abusing their power in instituting such acts of intimidation. If employer persists in these acts, they shall face the full wrath of NEHAWU.
 
Our reasonable wage demands are as follows:
 

• We demand 11% for Grades 13-15 (lowest earning salary band)
• We demand 9% for Grades 10-12 (middle earning salary band)
• We demand 7.3% for Grades 7-9 (highest earning salary band)

 
The national union is of the view that the NDA does not seem to care about the wellbeing of its employees, but instead continue to mismanage public funds which are meant to fund projects by Civil Society Organisations [CSO’s]. The manner in which the agency spends public funds and the lack of accountability thereof, leaves much to be desired and the union will continue to advance not only the mandate of its members, but also represent the masses who depend on these grants for better livelihood and poverty alleviation as enshrined through the National Development Agency Act, Act 108 of 1998 (as amended).
 
The strike will continue indefinitely until all our demands are met. We also would like to invite members of the community and civil society to join us as we fight for the betterment of all livelihood.
 
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat