The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] celebrates its 38th anniversary since its formation on the 27th June 1987.
Indeed, we are proud of our history, confident of our future as a beacon of hope for workers in their unwavering struggle to transform the workplace and the broader society.
The union was established at the height of the liberation struggle out of the merger of three unions namely; the South African Allied Workers’ Union [SAAWU], Health and Allied Workers’ Union [HAWU] and General and Allied Workers’ Union [GAWU], who responded to the clarion principle call of the Congress of South African Trade Unions [COSATU] of “One industry, One federation”.
Indeed, the union has stood the test of time and continues to grow from strength to strength, having been once regarded as a project of the COSATU with a membership of 5 000 members, but to date it’s one of biggest, militant and radical affiliate of the federation, COSATU and this we owe to our forbearers.
Our 38th anniversary occurs against the background of significant developments that are taking place internationally and domestically which indicate that the balance of class forces is heavily stacked against the working class and in favour of the ruling capitalist class. It is the working people and the working class in general that has been subjected to suffocation, pains and miseries as a result of the barbaric capitalist system.
Our anniversary takes place a day after the nation had commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, a revolutionary document that enshrines the popular aspirations as it gives expression to the people’s socioeconomic demands, political rights and principles upon which a democratic system of governance would be built as part of an overarching vision for the immediate outcome of the national liberation struggle.
It’s rather unfortunate that we celebrate these historic milestones amidst the current socioeconomic crisis of unemployment, poverty and inequality confronting our country, which are as a result of the implementation of neoliberal policy trajectory and the imposition of austerity programme. The current crisis confronting our country is an opportune moment for our union and revolutionary forces to lead and provide a strategic wayforward out of this quagmire.
As radical and militant trade union, we have been a vehicle to take forward the struggle of workers and the working-class in general by championing their interests and aspirations. This is largely informed by the character of our union that is rooted in the traditions of political/ community trade unionism that links workplace struggles and broader struggles of the working class in society.
Indeed, we are proud of our history and confident of our future. We proudly declare that NEHAWU will continue being a campaigning, fighting and militant union for the transformation of society. We will continue leading workplace struggles, waging a struggle to defend the rights of workers and collective bargaining.
Happy Birthday NEHAWU!!!
Long Live NEHAWU!!!
Amandla!!!
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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