Daily News reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) brought the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) to a standstill on Tuesday in action that threatened the daily Covid-19 infection rate tally.  

The union is demanding improved wages for its members and resolution of other outstanding work-related issues.  National chief negotiator for Nehawu in the NHLS, Napo Nthunya, claimed that all the organisation’s 262 facilities countrywide were at a standstill.  In Durban, Inkosi Albert Luthuli laboratory was one of the facilities that saw employees taking to the streets, saying they would remain there until their demands were met.  “We demand salary increases for our members and the employer needs to deal with the issue of salary discrepancies among our members. There are other issues of mutual concern that need to be addressed,” Nthunya said.  He indicated that the nationwide planned strike action would see members picketing through to Thursday around the country.  The NHLS has apparently put in place contingency measures to ensure service continuity and has also engaged private and academic laboratories to assist with diagnostic testing.  The Labour Court on Monday ruled that the strike action planned by Nehawu would be unlawful, not in compliance, and in breach of the relevant provisions of the Labour Relations Act.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chris Ndaliso at Daily News

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