This is according to the union’s general secretary, Zola Saphetha, in a statement released Saturday afternoon.

Saphetha says the bargaining forum was attended by Full Time Shop Stewards, Provincial Coordinators, Provincial Organisers and Provincial Secretaries of NEHAWU.

“After deliberations and robust discussions the meeting resolved that the national union is continuing with the strike action and that on Monday, 1 April, we will report to our members the outcomes of the meeting at the picket lines and receive a mandate from our members in relation to the ongoing negotiations. The union will from here on intensify the strike to ensure our members and workers’ demands are met by the employer,” announced Saphetha.

SABC reports that SARS filed for an urgent interdict this week to restrict workers to only picketing at its head office in Pretoria and campus in Alberton, south of Johannesburg.

SARS Remuneration and Benefits Executive Takalani Musekwa told the broadcaster: “We are hoping that we will be able to find each other and make some progress on the positions that the parties are currently are at.”

Saphetha, however, said: “SARS has a constitutional obligation to respect the rights of workers that are enshrined in the Labour Relations Act, and all other related pieces of legislation. In this regard, we call on the employer to move with speed in tabling an improved offer so that everything can return to normality.”

The strike began on Thursday when workers who are members of Nehawu and the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) rejected the 7% salary increase offered by SARS.

The workers are demanding 11% increase.

OFM News