Baloyi congratulates new Nehawu leadership

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Pretoria - Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi congratulated the new leadership of the National Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) following a four-day national congress by the union.

Fikile Majola and Mzwandile Makwayiba have been elected General Secretary and President respectively.

"You have taken on important roles and responsibilities to ensure the continued success of the labour movement. We look forward to working with you as we attend to many issues affecting public service employees

"We are hopeful that the outcome of this election will mark an era of an improved labour relations environment that will provide conducive conditions... for public service employees, to ensure that we respond to the developmental needs of the state," said Baloyi.

He said that there was a need for a strong labour movement that was prepared to work with government in addressing some of the challenges in the public service.

Nehawu was founded in June 1987 by workers from the education, health and social welfare sectors.

The union is affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions, which is the biggest federation in the country, with 1.9 million members.

It is also the biggest public sector union and largest in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council, a negotiations structure for public service employees in South Africa.