The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) management and National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) have signed a settlement agreement on 17 August 2015. The union and management of the institution convened an emergency meeting on 17 August with the aim to resolve wage negations dispute and averting a looming strike.
Consequent to seven months of negotiations, the parties had failed to meet common ground over salary adjustments and improved working conditions. This is subsequent to the failure of the process of conciliation and mediation by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), which saw both parties being awarded with the certificate of non-resolution, opening a path to what, could have been a costly and regrettable industrial action.
The emergency meeting resulted in the following conclusions:
- Salary adjustment of 7% (back dated to 1st April 2015)
- Medical Aid subsidy of R2285.50
- Housing allowance of R 1200.00
- Parties agreed to implement the salary scales for employees on salary band A-C over a period of two years. The first 50% will be implemented in the 2015\2016 financial year back dated to the 1st of April 2015. The next 50% will be done in the 2016\2017 financial year.
The parties agreed that all other outstanding issues will be resolved, within the next six months and will be dealt with in the Bargaining and Labour Relations forum; including the development of a detailed work plan and timelines. In addition, both parties also agreed that the employer will withdraw all termination letters and notices of discipline that were issued to NEHAWU members. All those workers, who had been served with letters of termination, will return to work with immediate effect.
The union and the NHLS management are committed to embarking on a process of relationship building. Both parties have agreed to commit themselves to not losing the mandate of the NHLS, as it is an important healthcare facility in South Africa, which serves as the largest diagnostic pathology service, with over 300 laboratories across nine provinces and serves approximately 80% of the South African population.
Enquires:
Lebogang Maifadi
Tel: 011 555 0567
Cell: 082 329 4780
