Nehawu ends strike at Social Development Department

Striking members of the National‚ Education‚ Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu)‚ employed by the Department of Social Development‚ have returned to work. The Times reports that their five-week strike ended last week‚ after the department and the union signed a settlement agreement. Workers were demanding higher entry-level salaries for department employees‚ tools of the trade and rural allowances. The union laid 13 demands out before the department‚ following failed negotiations in August 2015. Nehawu spokesperson Khaya Xaba said most of the demands had now been addressed. ‘The only thing we were not able to agree on was the implementation and modalities of the rural allowance and the review of the (Occupation Specific Dispensation for social services workers).’ Xaba said workers who joined the strike though they provide essential services will not face dismissal but a written warning instead‚ because they were not properly notified by the department that their actions could lead to dismissal.