The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] has on the 09th July 2024 concluded a 2024/2025 wage increment agreement with Amanzi Bargaining Council. The union considers the agreement as a major victory for its members and workers in the sector.

This agreement comes after protracted negotiations at the Amanzi Bargaining Council resulting into parties concluding an agreement that in the main covers salary increment, housing allowance and conditions of employment.

The agreement reached that salaries and wages of employees covered by the bargaining unit shall be increased by 7% across the board with housing allowance increased by R200 to R3700 per month including the annual leave entitlement which shall be increased to 30 days for the financial year 2024/25.

Furthermore, parties agreed that within 90 days of signing the agreement, they shall conclude on the following demands: Remote work policy, Post-retirement medical aid and Pay progression.

Parties as signatories to the agreement committed to defer the allied demands to plant level and should be concluded all in 180 days of signing the agreement. These demands include danger allowance, transport allowance, acting allowance, cell-phone allowance, meal allowance, data allowance, tool allowance, first aid/fire-fighting/SHEQ Allowance, retirement functions and funeral transport.

It was further agreed that other items will been deferred to plant level and shall be concluded within three months of signing the agreement. Notwithstanding the date of signatures, the agreement comes to effect from the 1st July 2024 and shall remain in force until the 30th June 2025.

NEHAWU as a red fighting militant union appreciates the work done by its members on providing the mandate on different areas aimed at improving their conditions and negotiators for accurate execution of members’ mandate. As NEHAWU, we will continue championing the interests of its members and workers at all material times. At this point, we wish to thank all unions in the sector particularly our sister union SAMWU for working shoulder to shoulder with us [NEHAWU] demonstrating the unity of workers and solidarity in the negotiations.

Lastly, our members and workers must know that they have a fighting union on their side that will continue to wage a relentless war to protect workers’ interests and defend collective bargaining at all costs.

END

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat