NEHAWU KZN concerned about closure of Durban finance office
Newly appointed Finance MEC Francois Rodgers announced the closure of the office, in a bid to cut costs.
DURBAN - The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) in KwaZulu-Natal has raised concern over the closure of the Durban finance offices.
Newly appointed Finance MEC Francois Rodgers announced the closure of the office, in a bid to cut costs.
Rodgers said the move would save the government a million rand a year.
But NEHAWU in the province wants Rodgers to reconsider his decision. The union has welcomed Rodgers’ decision to close off the department’s Durban office.
NEHAWU’s provincial secretary Ayanda Zulu said they should have been consulted about this.
“There is a process in terms of the relocation policy that must be followed if the department is embarking on the process of closing the office, and that process is very clear that there must be meaningful consultation.”
Zulu also raised concern that workers who stay in Durban would now have to travel to Pietermaritzburg, which is almost an hour away.
But Rodgers told Eyewitness News that this would not affect any of the workers.
“The closing of the office is certainly not going to be impacting on their position within Treasury so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
NEHAWU THREATENS ROGERS WITH COURT ACTION
NEHAWU in the province has threatened Rodgers with legal action if he does not reverse his decision to close the department's Durban offices.
The union has sent a letter to Rodgers requesting a meeting.
“The MEC together with the Head of Department must consult us as the union and withdraw that particular decision because it is not in line with Labour Relations Act,” said Zulu.
He added that they are prepared to approach the courts if their demands are not met.
“And failure to do so as the union as we’ve always done, we will challenge this issue in the Labour Court because we do think that it undermines collective bargaining and existing legislations.”