The National Education Health Workers Union's (Nehawu) says its leadership is consulting lawyers over its "plan of action" after its intended public service strike was interdicted.
Nehawu had planned to go on an indefinite strike from Monday 6 March after serving a strike notice on 24 February. It and other prominent public sector unions have been locked in a long-standing battle with government over wages.
In 2020, government reneged on the final year of a three-year agreement. In 2021/22, the parties reached an agreement that included a R1 000 non-pensionable allowance after tax, but in the following year, talks deadlocked again, after government unilaterally implemented a 3% increase plus the gratuity, arguing that this amounted to a 7% increase – which unions disputed.
"The strike planned for 6 March has been interdicted by a court order obtained by DPSA [the Department of Public Service and Administration]. Union leadership is consulting lawyers and will communicate a detailed plan of action on 5 March," Nehawu said.
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The DPSA said it was still holding out hope that the wage impasse could be solved through collective bargaining processes and without interrupting service delivery.
"Government respects the rights of Trade Unions to organise and the rights of members to embark on peaceful and lawful protests, including pickets and strikes. It is the commitment of government to ensure that these hard fought for rights are discharged in a manner that does not disrupt service delivery, especially in relation to essential services such as health," it said in a statement.
"Government believes that matters of mutual interest can still be resolved through orderly collective bargaining at the appropriate forum established for such purpose."
It called on trade unions to "go back to the bargaining chamber" to "resolve matters through dialogue".