/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union {NEHAWU} calls upon all workers across the length and breadth of the country to come in numbers to celebrate the International Worker’s Day on the 1st of May. In celebrating this historic international worker’s day, the union joins the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the strong class-orientated trade unions that is massive, democratic and militant, in conveying a militant salute to all men and women of the working class in the world in the year of its 17th World Congress to be hosted by South Africa on the 5th - 8th October 2016 at Durban International Conference Centre (ICC), in KwaZulu-Natal province. 

 The occasion of 2016 May Day celebrations takes place under the theme; “Celebrating 30 Years and defending Collective Bargaining, Workers Jobs and Rights”. Indeed, the federation {COSATU} will be holding the National May Day event on the day, as workers across provinces will be reflecting back on the gains and achievements made since the dismantling of the apartheid regime and under the current democratic government led by the African National Congress (ANC).

As NEHAWU, a transformative union under the banner of COSATU, we are fully conscious of the road that lies ahead with challenges that are faced by workers and the country at large, challenges that seek to derail development path as a nation, which amongst others include; unemployment, inequality and poverty including. At the same time, we are also witnessing the steady rise in corruption within the state as well as in the private sector.

Workers should use this year’s celebration to intensify our campaign for living wages, implementation of National Health Insurance {NHI}, improved healthcare system, free education, total ban on labour brokers, fight against casualization and demand improved service delivery for the working class.
Whilst our attention is towards the Worker’s Day celebrations, we have noted media reports emanating from various quarters that as workers will be gathering across the country on May Day, some opportunistic characters led by Mr. Vavi, will be launching a new federation which aims to weaken and sow divisions amongst workers especially targeting to weaken COSATU and ultimately the Alliance.

We call on all our members and workers not to attend such a gathering and reject any attempts to sow divisions amongst workers, as NEHAWU we call on workers to be vigilant and reject with contempt it deserves this attempt by a group of disgruntled people to weaken our Federation COSATU. NEHAWU calls on workers to come in numbers in celebrating the International Worker’s Day on the 01st May 2016.

Issued by NEHAWU