The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) says its members will stage a demonstration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday.

Nehawu is protesting against the possibility of salaries of public servants not being increased this year and alleged lapses in the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

National spokesperson Khaya Xaba said salary negotiations between the union and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) would now form part of the broader demands raised.

Negotiations between the two parties started in June, but have been deadlocked since August. Xaba said workers are demanding an 8% salary increase.

“The employer is pleading poverty because of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. This response from the employer is misleading and disingenuous because the institution did receive its allocation before the start of the nationwide lockdown.”

NSFAS administrator Dr Randall Carolissen said the trade union initially demanded a 13% increment, which was later revised to 8%.

“Subsequent to multiple deliberations the employer then proposed a final counter-offer of 4.3% which was rejected by Nehawu and has led to the current deadlock.

“Due to the Covid-19 state of disaster, and direct implications of the lockdown on the economy, government had previously earmarked a 4.4% salary increase for lower paid servants and no increase at all for those in higher income brackets.

“Government has put forward a proposal for a zero increment or a wage freeze for the 2020/21 financial year.”

Carolissen said that the scheme would further engage the National Treasury for a mandate on the increment matter.

Two weeks ago the union handed over a memorandum of demands to the government at the Union Buildings.

The memorandum was accepted by deputy health minister Dr Joe Phaahla.

The government had thus far failed to respond to the demands, Xaba said.

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