NEHAWU Gauteng Statement On The Strike Action At NRCS
Thursday November 28, 2024
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] in Gauteng Province is currently embarking on a strike action at the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications [NRCS].
The strike comes as a result of unresolved issues stemming from collapsed wage negotiations and mismanagement by the NRCS management. The NRCS management’s unwillingness to meet workers’ reasonable demands for wage increases and adjustments has demonstrated that they care less about workers. The blatant disregard for collective bargaining principles, which has significantly eroded trust and accountability in the workplace. Equally, the attack on workers and their livelihood.
The management of NRCS has proposed freezing wage increases across the board for two consecutive financial years (July 2024 and July 2025), meaning that workers will not receive any annual wage adjustments, which is effectively a wage cut in real terms, considering the rising cost of living and inflation. All vacant positions for the 2024/25 financial year will remain unfilled, except for critical positions such as CEO, Head of Human Resources, and General Managers, as approved by the EXCO. This measure will worsen staff shortages, increase workloads for existing employees, and negatively impact service delivery, placing undue pressure on workers. They have further recommended freezing 13th cheques, performance bonuses, and long-service bonuses. Workers will lose essential benefits and incentives that are critical for employee morale, retention, and long-term financial planning.
The management has called for all prior collective agreements to be legally reviewed to modify or nullify expectations deemed unaffordable or impractical. This undermines previously negotiated agreements and weakens the collective bargaining process, leaving workers vulnerable to unilateral decisions by management.
The management of NRCS proposes following Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA) to restructure the organisation, ensuring its long-term financial sustainability. This includes consultations with stakeholders like staff, organised labour, the dtic, and National Treasury. This would result in retrenchments and significant changes to the organisational structure, further destabilising the workforce and placing workers at risk of unemployment.
Workers are saying enough is enough and refuse to stand idle whilst the conditions of employment are unilaterally changed.
Issued by NEHAWU Gauteng Office
Mzikayise Tshontshi (Gauteng Provincial Secretary) at 0636851938 or email: mzikayise@nehawu.org.za or
Thulisile Msimang (Gauteng Provincial Deputy Secretary) at 0721748062 or email: tmsimang@dtps.gov.za Visit https://www.nehawu.org.za
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