The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] supports the national march by our sister union, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union [POPCRU] to the Union Buildings, set to take place on Tuesday 20th September 2022.

Our support for the national march is propelled by the struggle faced by workers in the criminal justice cluster and workers in the public sector in general, who are subjected to unbearable working conditions.

This national march is about defending the hard-won gains of workers and defending collective bargaining. Equally, this march is directed at government to do away with implementing neoliberal macroeconomic policies of austerity which have destroyed the capacity of the state to deliver on critical services especially in the criminal justice system and this is evident with the budget cuts and spending that have weakened crime prevention and justice in the country.

As NEHAWU, we believe that the demands of POPCRU are urgent and must to be addressed now. We fully support the demands of POPCRU, which include amongst others:

* Reversal of Austerity Measures/Budget Cuts

* Filling of all vacant posts

* Full implementation of PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2018

* Non-implementation of all signed agreements and resolutions 

* End to police killings and rising levels of violent crime

* Development and implementation of a promotion policy and grade progression

* Employment of more workers in SAPS, DCJ and Traffic

* Building of safe Police Stations for effective crime prevention

* Increase in all Danger Allowances

* Provision of tools of trade in all departments.  

Lastly, we call on the government to urgently address the demands of POPCRU. As NEHAWU, we fully support this national march by our sister union.  

END 

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat

Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za