BLOEMFONTEIN – The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) has called off the strike over salary increases that exclusively involved employees at the Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Authority (FSGLTA) after reaching an agreement. The strike ended on Tuesday 2 December and workers returned to their workplace yesterday – Wednesday 3 December.
Workers took to the picket lines on 24 November.
Striking a deal
The union struck a deal on a revised offer with this entity of the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) on Tuesday 2 December. After negotiations deadlocked, approximately 120 workers went to the picket lines to pressure the entity to pay outstanding increases on salaries. Unhappy workers demanded the immediate payment of outstanding increases after the entity had reneged on the agreement signed, opting for no increases for the past financial year of 2024-’25.
Khauhelo Mnqibisa, Nehawu’s secretary in the Free State, confirmed the agreement reached is on 1.5% and 2.5% increases for the past financial year, 2024-’25.
“The agreement reached is on a 2.5% increase for employees earning R0 – R600 000 and 1.5% for those earning R600 000 and above. Payment will be backdated from April 2024 and with the implementation date being this month of December, in terms of this binding agreement the union has entered into with the employer,” said Mnqibisa.
Employees last received an increase in 2023-’24.
According to Mnqibisa, the renewed deal was a victory for workers, saying: “It would alleviate their burden due to the high cost of living and provide for their families.”
The union strongly objected to the proposed offer of 2.1% and 4.8% by the FSGLTA board and management for the 2025-’26 fiscal year. Mnqibisa explained that the 4.8% was conditional for workers earning below R600 000, and 2.1% for workers earning R600 000 or more per annum. He said with the offer, the board had opted to not pay outstanding increases for 2024-’25. This angered workers and prompted them to embark on strike.
