The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] supports its sister union the Communication Workers’ Union [CWU] in their fight against retrenchments especially at TELKOM and at the South African Broadcasting Services [SABC]. 

Telkom is currently in the process of retrenching 3000 workers and this number could increase to 6 000 if outsourcing and additional job cuts at Telkom subsidiary Business Connexion were taken into account. The SABC last week sent an email to all its workers notifying them of looming retrenchments which will affect at least 600 workers.

These retrenchments comes after the latest quarterly employment statistics revealed that unemployment has risen by a percentage point from 29,1 to 30,1% in the first quarter of 2020. More workers are going to lose their jobs because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which has halted many economic activities.

NEHAWU stands in solidarity with the CWU and supports their efforts of highlighting the evil tactics of the capitalist system of using retrenchments in order to rake in more profits. Retrenchments of any kind are categorically rejected by NEHAWU and we will work with other unions to fight the ongoing retrenchments and exploitation of workers, corruption, collusion, and lack of transformation.

NEHAWU calls on all its members, workers and society at large to join hands in fighting the job blood bath currently taking place in all sectors of the economy including the public sector. We vow to relentlessly fight retrenchments in all sectors and more especially in the public service. In this regard, we call on employers to consider different options of saving jobs and that retrenchments should be a last resort. We will not fold our arms while workers are sacrificed for profits and we will gallantly fight for the job security of all workers.

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Khaya Xaba (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 082 455 2500 or email: khaya@nehawu.org.za