“We’re taking the offer because of hunger”: Nehawu finally accepts Wits offer
About 160 members of Nehawu were left with no other choice than to accept the less than 6,9% salary increase as majority voted to take the new offer tabled by Wits management.
• Nehawu and Wits management reached an agreement after five months.
• The salary increase is not the same percentage across working grades.
• Nehawu will begin salary increase negotiations for 2026 earlier than October.
After five months of negotiations with Wits University, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) finally accepted, during a meeting held on May 09, 2025, at the Wits Science Stadium, an offer of between 5,55% and 5,7% salary increase and an instant R2,500 once-off eWallet despite the majority of the members feeling cornered by circumstances.
Over 260 members voted in favour of the offer, while 160 voted against it.
Most workers were dissatisfied with the disparities in the salary increases. Grade 5-8 workers will receive a 5,55% increase, grade 9-12 workers will receive a 5,6% increase and lastly, grade 13-17 workers will receive a 5,7% increase.
Thabo Modise, secretary of Nehawu Wits branch, believes that this is Wits management’s way to try divide and conquer: “Management wants to divide us,” he said.
Modise encouraged members to trust in their leadership, stressing that members are resigning from the union to join either the Academic Staff Association of Wits University (Asawu) which accepted a salary increase of 4,5% increase, and the Association of Language Teachers of South Africa (ALTSA) which accepted a 5,5% salary increase long before this meeting.
“We are taking the offer because of hunger,” said Trinity Makola, chairperson of Nehawu Wits branch, after the votes were counted.
He went on to promise members to begin salary increase negotiations for 2026 earlier than October.
FEATURED IMAGE: Nehawu members opening the meeting. Photo: Lulah Mapiye
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