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The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union [NEHAWU] in the North West Province is embarking on an indefinite provincial strike of Community Health Workers [CHWs] across the Province starting form today, 7th March 2016. The strike follows a very long process of engagements with the employer (Department of Health) which started back in 2013 on all issues affecting the Community Health Workers. These discussions did not yield any positive results.

We have exercised the highest level of patience which unfortunately has been abused by the employer by showing no interest in resolving these critical matters. Community Health Workers are a critical component in the delivery of quality health services especially Primary Health Care as well as the implementation of NHI. On the basis of this alone we find the conduct of the provincial Health Department inexcusable.

Despite the clear resolution of the African National Congress on outsourcing, the department has demonstrated the highest levels of arrogance and outsourced the CHWs without consulting the union and the employees concerned. The arrogance and dishonesty of the employer was further illustrated by the decision to implement outsourcing while we were trying to engage the department following unsatisfactory responses to issues raised during our provincial march of the 7th August 2015.

The union denounces the actions of the employer for making regular deductions of monies for the UIF from our members while these monies were not given to the Department Of Labour as legally required. We have also noted with serious concerns the continuous victimisation and exploitation of these workers.

To this end, NEHAWU says we have had enough of this exploitation and victimisation of our members. In order to fight this ill treatment we have purposefully resolved to embark on an indefinite strike effective from today, 7th March 2016 until the employer respond to our demands. No amount of intimidation and victimisation will stop the union and its members from fighting for justice. We call upon all Community Health Workers in the province to join us in the fight against this exploitation.

We will ensure that no service shall be rendered by community health workers in the province as long as our demands are not met.

We remain committed to the Community Health Workers’ demands of improved working conditions; permanent employment in the Public Service through the Health Department and permanent banning of labour brokers in the Health Department.
Leadership of the union will address all picket lines in all five Regions joined by COSATU leaders everyday of the strike in all our picket lines.

We recommit ourselves to quality service delivery to the people of North West hence we will remain open for further engagements with the Department on concrete offers to be put on the table with a view to end the strike.

Issued by NEHAWU