The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has announced that it will embark on a national strike at the South African Revenue Service (Sars) after the union’s demand for wage increases deadlocked.
Nehawu’s general secretary Zola Saphetha said that the strike was set to take place this Wednesday, starting with a lunchtime picket today.
Saphetha said they served Sars with a notice of intention to strike after wage negotiations, which have been ongoing since the beginning of the year.
“The union declared the dispute after it was clear that the employer was not responding to our wage demands,” Saphetha said.
“Instead, the employer has been unwavering that the institution doesn’t have money due to National Treasury austerity measures.”
Sars initially tabled a zero percent increase wage offer, while the workers are demanding 12% increase across the board.
“Because of that inflation 5.9 [the] cost of living adjustment has to start there. Anything else below the 5.9% will not amount to the adjusting of the cost of living of the workers,” Saphetha said.
“It sounds like an insult to the employees of SARS, after us working so hard, even during the two years of Covid-19 where there was no movement at all, and there was no economic activity, these SARS, workers registered a 25% increase and then you come back and say look, you know what, I’m going to give you actually zero.”
He said Nehawu’s leadership was happy and confident with the preparations so far for next week’s strike.
“The strike will kick start on 25 May 2022 where our members shall demonstrate their power and send a clear message that no employer must take workers for granted,” Saphetha said.
Nehawu’s decision to go on strike at Sars followed the Public Servants’ Association’s (PSA) announcement last week that it would also strike at the tax collection agency over wage demands.
Meanwhile, Sars on Sunday said it was able to make some funds available towards bargaining unit employees through its own diligence in managing costs, and other initiatives.
Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said these funds ware from some savings from last year (2021/22) as well as projected savings from this current year (2022/23) which has been approved towards people costs.
“I am pleased that under difficult conditions we are able to provide some financial relief to our employees,” Kieswetter said.
“I also remind our employees that we are inordinately privileged to have employment security at a time when so many are unemployed and financially destitute.”
The unions will engage their members to obtain a mandate, after which the parties will meet again to continue engagements.
