Workers’ union, Nehawu has suspended their planned two-day stay away and will see hundreds of nurses who have been on a two-months strike return to work in the embattled North West province.
Thousands of the union members from six provinces had this week marched to the provincial legislature in what they called a National Day of Action to hand memorandum of fresh demands to the Inter-Ministerial Task team.
Nehawu had given the Inter-Ministerial Task team 24 hours to respond to their demands that include better working conditions and the removal of Premier Mahumapelo amongst others.
NEHAWU’s general secretary, Zola Saphetha says: “The inter-ministerial team has been able to respond to our ultimatum of 24 hours. We have agreed to process issues as listed on the memoradum. Relevant ministers should find time to engage with us in relations to issues of their departments.”
“We agreed that we will meet again in a week or two. For now there will be no use for a stay-away.”
Inter-Ministerial Task team spokesperson, Phumla Williams says Thursday’s consultative meetings was part of their intervention to bring about stability in the North West.
“There’s been very useful engagements with the union. Some of the issues that have been raised have been forwarded to relevant departments. The Minister has made a commitment that there will be a follow up – and yes there’s been very useful engagement. We are reporting back to cabinet next week Thursday.”
