Cape Town – Members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union picketed in front of the Western Cape Department of Social Development offices, having been on strike since March 13.
The union demands, among other things, the placement of assistant community development practitioners on the “correct salary” level, the occupational specific dispensation for social service professionals and occupations and the introduction of a rural allowance.
They are also seeking the absorption of unemployed social workers on a permanent basis.
Negotiations with the government broke down in October, and the strike is the culmination of the failure of both parties to strike a deal.
Some Social Development staff protested outside the department’s provincial offices in Queen Victoria Street before moving further down to the offices of the South Africa Social Security Agency (Sassa).
Nehawu’s provincial secretary, Eric Kweleta, said the department was ignorant and arrogant by not agreeing to the demands of the union.
“Negotiations are continuing and we are hoping the minister (Bathabile Dlamini) will come to her senses and do what's right."
‘‘We remain resolute in our demands for better pay, rural allowances and danger pay for staff working in dangerous conditions,” said Kweleta.
He said there was almost no reaction when they protested outside the department's offices in black townships.
“When we inconvenienced Patricia de Lille’s parents in Mitchells Plain last week the reaction was amazing."
‘‘Now we will continue at the Bellville and Goodwood offices tomorrow (today) and inconvenience Hellen Zille’s mother and father and maybe we will finally have a resolution,” said Kweleta.
Addressing the union members, he said the department’s “arrogance” was evident as blame was placed on the union, after the death of a six-month-old baby in Gauteng on Friday.
Kweleta told the staff not to be discouraged as the department’s "arrogance" had also played a part in that.
Social Development MEC Albert Fritz’s spokesperson, Sihle Ngobese, said: “There was a meeting today (yesterday) and the disruptions have been negligible in terms of services due to the small number of staff participating in strike action."
‘‘Most disruptions were caused by the few protesters unlawfully blocking entrances to facilities.”
He said at present the majority of the department's staff were still working as negotiations continue.