Members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union are going ahead with their lunch-time pickets.

Nehawu is striking over government’s refusal to increase public servants’ salaries and a failure to offer adequate personal protective equipment against the coronavirus.

The union, which represents around 200,000 healthcare workers, is threatening to go on a full-blown strike next week.

Nehawu's one-hour lunchtime picket at the National Health Laboratory Services follows a fact-finding mission.

The union says it conducted site visits in four provinces where COVID-19 cases are highest: KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng.

It found several problems related to personal protective equipment, as well as a shortage of staff.

The national Health Department has sent out a statement acknowledging the union's findings but Nehawu is forging ahead with a series of pickets while waiting for communication from the department.

eNCA