THE National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union has called on the Robben Island Museum Council to intervene in a wage dispute with management.

Nehawu members are demanding a R2,000 wage increase, while management is offering 6%.

The workers run the island ferries, its shops and sell tour tickets.

The museum cancelled trips after the strike by the workers turned ugly on Saturday.

The strikers invaded the embarkment area at the Nelson Mandela Gateway and got on to the ferry. Police were called in after the strikers became violent and unruly.

Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Nehawu provincial secretary Luthando Nogcinisa said it was not their intention to target tourists.

"We have been engaging with management but it has showed unwillingness to resolve the dispute and was also not negotiating in good faith."

He said the union had decided to call on the Museum Island Museum Council, which had powers to resolve the wage dispute, to intervene.

Though Nehawu had dropped its demands from the original wage increase of R2 500, management had stuck to its guns.

Robben Island Museum CEO Sibongiseni Mkhize said the strike was not good for the image of the museum and the country.

"It's regrettable that employees have tarnished the image of a World Heritage Site by inconveniencing tourists and acting in an undisciplined manner."

Mkhize also said the industrial action was having a negative impact on museum operations.

"The museum cannot provide full service at the moment. But we have managed to run two tours and we are in the process of adding a third one."

Mkhize said the museum remained open and that efforts were made last week to resolve the strike.