The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] has reached an agreement with the South African Bureau of Standards after a protracted strike.

The agreement was signed today, Friday 02nd August 2024. The parties agreed on the following:

• Parties agreed on an annual salary increase on a sliding scale of 5.8% to 4% effective from 01 April 2024.
• Parties agreed that employees will be eligible to a once-off gratuitous payment of R25 000.00 and a once-off gratuitous payment of R5 000. 00 for the absorbed interns as of 1 April 2024. The once-off gratuitous payment shall be paid by no later than 31 August 2024.
• The current gap in salaries of employees into the lower guide of the applicable salary scale will be split into three (3) years to reach the lower guide.
• Employees below the lower guide will get 30% towards the lower guide of the applicable salary scale payable on the 25th August 2024. They will be progressed in year two to 65% towards the lower guide payable on 25 April 2025 and the remainder will be implemented in year three placing these employees in the lower guide by 1 April 2026 payable on 25 April 2026.
• Absorbed interns as of 1 April 2024 will be accelerated to 50% away from the minimum of the applicable salary scales in year one effective 25th August 2024 and will be progressed to be in the minimum of the applicable salary scale in year two with effect from 1 April 2025 and payable on 25 April 2025.
• The parties agreed that Housing Allowance will be increased from R1400 to R1500 for employees who currently enjoy this benefit.
• The parties agreed that the no work no pay will be deducted from employees annual leave.

The following issues will be deferred to the Bargaining Forum and will be prioritized:

• 13th Cheque and the Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP).
• Review of the salary package (benefits) for the absorbed interns by no later than 31 August 2024.

Furthermore, parties agreed that there will be no victimization of the employees for exercising their rights to participate in the strike. Following this agreement, as NEHAWU, we have thus ended the strike action. Workers are expected to return to work on Monday August 05, 2024.

As NEHAWU, we salute all our members and workers at SABS for waging a militant relentless struggle by keeping our strike and picket lines strong as they were struggling for a better working conditions. We commend our members for the resilience they displayed during the strike.