The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] over the past two days has been engaged in marathon negotiations with the management of the Independent Electoral Commission [IEC] to resolve outstanding issues.

The national union has managed to push the employer to commit to the agreement that was reached at the Electoral Commission National Bargaining Forum [ECNBF] which directed the employer to implement the new organogram by the 1st September 2019. Furthermore, parties have agreed to relook into the recommendations on the tools of trade that was presented to the employer by the Tools of Trade task team in July 2018. NEHAWU also raised sharply the victimisation of its members at IEC and as such parties have agreed on a process to address cases of members who have been victimised by management.

In implementing the resolutions reached by parties a committee of three a side has been established to ensure that implementation takes place. As NEHAWU we remain committed in ensuring that we gallantly fight for better wages and improved working conditions for our members. In this regard, we call on the IEC to ensure that they immediately look into the issue of staff morale which is at an all-time low as a result of the issues that members have been raising.

Moreover, we call on the management of the IEC to prioritise the issues of workers. Like any employer they have an obligation of taking care of their more prized assets which is their human resources. The IEC plays a major role in upholding our democracy and in ensuring that they play that role with aplomb they must have a workforce that is motivated to go beyond the call of duty. Therefore, it is imperative that workers receive better salaries and they have all the tools of trade they need to perform their duties.

NEHAWU will closely monitor the implementation of the agreement and ensure that member’s issues are addressed adequately and speedily.

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat