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The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) while on the second day of its successful national strike of Community Healthcare Workers (CHWs) is not surprised by the desperation and jealousy shown by the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) in an attempt to divide workers and collapse our strike action.

NEHAWU has for many years championed the campaign for health transformation and introduction of the National Health Insurance (NHI) which NUPSAWU has never been part of. This struggle led to government committing to, amongst others, ‘strengthening the effectiveness of the health system’ highlighting the need to overhaul the health services delivery platform from one that is based on a largely curative, high-cost care model, to one that promotes cost-effective PHC services that are delivered as close to communities and households as possible, and is centred around health promotion, prevention and community involvement. The South African Government in 2011 launched the model for re-engineering PHC through the following three streams:

·      ward-based primary healthcare outreach teams (WBPHCOTs)

·      school health teams

·      district clinical specialist teams

Therefore, Community Healthcare Workers as part of the WBPHCOTs are the first line of support between the community and various health and social development services. They empower community members to make informed choices about their health and psychosocial wellbeing and provide ongoing care and support to individuals and families who are vulnerable due to chronic illness and indigent living circumstances.

We are aware that NUPSAW has been misleading Community Health Workers into believing that they are the ones who fought for their inclusion in WBPHCOTs and yet they never contributed to the campaign for NHI and the development of the policy framework and strategy for Ward Based Primary Healthcare Outreach Teams. This is the same union that initially opposed the discussions at PHSDSBC on the absorption of the CHWs until they were forced hence the signing of Resolution 1 of 2018. As NEHAWU, we signed PHSDSBC Resolution 1 of 2018 because it was a stepping stone towards a greater goal in the standardization of remuneration for CHW’s in line with the call for the national minimum wage at the time. We fought for the implementation of clause 5.5 of Resolution 1 of 2018 which to us means nothing less than the permanent absorption of CHWs.

As NEHAWU unlike NUPSAWU we rejected the extension of the lifespan of this agreement in 2019 after the employer failed to finalise the modalities and SOP that was meant to facilitate permanent employment of these cadres from October 2019. We viewed as a gateway towards the continued exploitation of CHW’s more so that the government itself admitted that they play a critical role in the Primary Healthcare and the realization of the National Health Insurance (NHI).

It ironic that NUPSAW would agree with the employer to keep these workers in perpetual contracts where they are only paid a stipend with no benefits and protection at the same time want to use them to enhance their bargaining power. They know very well that Section 7 of the PHSDSBC constitution requires that a trade union must meet a threshold of 30 000 members to be admitted in the council. The bargaining council is guided by its constitution and as such, the constitution applies to all parties equally without any special preference. Claiming that the council rejected to admit them because of 13 225 CHWs is a grand standing fallacy that exposes their extreme desperation. Clearly our strike action caught this fly-by-night attention seeking labour desk that claims to represent the plight of CHWs flat-footed.

The fact that it is a revolutionary red union like NEHAWU that has succeeded in declaring the dispute which ultimately led us to obtaining a strike certificate taking us to a legal and protected national strike, pains NUPSAW since it has failed to do so while it claims to be a representative of these vulnerable workers. NEHAWU therefore refutes the claims that it has powers to remove a party at the level of the Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council (PHSDSBC). It is well within the right of every registered trade union to apply for admission to the Council and such an application is considered by parties to the Council, in line with the Constitution.

NEHAWU regards this struggle of vulnerable workers in the context of the broader demand for a living wage and is therefore appalled by the fact that a staff association like NUPSAW which is masquerading as a union that seeks to advance the interests of the workers will oppose a protected industrial action that is in favour of the working class and vulnerable workers who are fighting for permanent employment and benefits.

NEHAWU calls upon its members to intensify the strike and not be deterred by the propaganda antics that are being employed by NUPSAW as it realized that CHW’s generally support our national strike. This strike is a do or die for us and we are more than prepared to win on behalf of all the workers that have been exploited throughout the years.

Recently, we have observed a nuisance obsession of NEHAWU by this fly-by-night union. On the 23rd October 2020 they issued a statement advising workers not to join the NEHAWU programme of action to defend and protect workers from COVID-19 and the fight for the implementation of Resolution 1 of 2018 especially clause 3.3 which speaks to the salary increment of public servants. Again, the very same union is advising workers not to join a fight meant to free them from the shackles of exploitation.

The attitude by NUPSAW reminds us of the old age adage that says “Dogs don't bark at parked cars.” NEHAWU has a 33 years old history of fighting for workers against exploitation and we will continue to champion workers interests at all material times. In this regard, we advise workers to be aware of punch-drunk unions who don’t hold the best interest of workers at heart. Workers must join a union with a proven track record in fighting for decent salaries and improved working conditions. 

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat