Watch Public sector unions strike announcement video

Public sector unions have announced their intention to serve the government with a seven-day notice to strike on 22 February. Image: Twitter/@KatlegoLegodi_

HAITU members to join NEHAWU strike [video]

HAITU general-secretary Lerato Mthunzi says members will also demand a 10% wage hike, joining NEHAWU amongst other public sector workers.

Watch Public sector unions strike announcement video

Public sector unions have announced their intention to serve the government with a seven-day notice to strike on 22 February. Image: Twitter/@KatlegoLegodi_

The Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union (HAITU) will join the strike by public sector workers, including NEHAWU, on Monday.

ALSO READ: Public sector unions gets interdict as they planned indefinite strike

HAITU TO JOIN THE STRIKE ON MONDAY

HAITU members will join other healthcare workers for the strike on Monday. The union says that its members are tired of the government’s response to workers’ demands. 

“Health workers have been suffering for years and this government refuses to take any responsibility for the crisis we are facing in the healthcare sector,” says HAITU general secretary Lerato Mthunzi.

ALSO READ: NEHAWU strike outside Department of Education offices

“In the new round of wage talks, which opened in February this year, the bosses offered a pathetic 3% increase, which they unilaterally implemented.” 

ALSO DEMANDING 10% WAGE HIKE

Mthunzi says that HAITU members will also demand a 10% wage hike. He adds that “what they are demanding is very small” when you consider how the bosses have blatantly robbed workers of their increases in the last two years.

“Health workers are working under pressure as we must deliver quality healthcare in public hospitals which are literally crumbling because of poor infrastructure, caused by poor maintenance.”

“Health workers are working under enormous pressure – we must deliver quality healthcare in public hospitals which are literally crumbling because of poor infrastructure, caused by poor maintenance.”

ALSO READ: Public sector unions gets interdict as they planned indefinite strike

UNIONS DEMAND 10% PAY HIKE

As previously reported, the unions are demanding a pay hike of 10%. Mamabolo says they “will not allow the government to continue taking decisions without consulting them”.  

They include the Public Servants’ Association, the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union, the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union, and the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa.

ALSO READ: Pretoria streets to AVOID as unions march against 3% wage increment

This week, the Labour Court in Johannesburg granted the Gauteng Department of Health an interdict against Nehawu. 

Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says that several hospitals across the province was affected.

“Some hospitals experienced total shutdown as was the case at Kopanong, Sebokeng, Thelle Mogoerane, and Bheki Mlangeni. Patients were left unattended as striking workers went inside wards ordering staff out of the facilities.”