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 National Education Health & Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), which has
around 280,000 members, said in a statement there was a public
health "crisis" in Africa's most developed economy because of
government outsourcing.
The union also wants a 3,000 rand ($265) housing allowance for its
workers as part of demands it says are aimed at reducing widespread
inequality among health workers.
"Our abolition of these salary levels is informed by the urgent need
to close the huge wage gap between the highest paid and the lowest
paid," NEHAWU said in a statement.
"In light of a series of stories reflecting wastes and fruitless
expenditures we expect that there will be enough money for the
increase," it added. The union said it would present its demands to
the government on Saturday.
NEHAWU is a key member of South Africa's largest labour federation,
COSATU, and is seen as having a strong influence on how other unions
vote.
The union made no mention of any planned strikes, a common
occurrence in South Africa where unions played a major role in
ending apartheid and still have political clout as part of an
alliance with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.
The longest mining strike in South Africa's history ended in June
but has hobbled the economy and any industrial action in other
sectors will be a concern for investors.
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Earlier this month, central bank Governor Gill Marcus reiterated her
concern that recent wage demands and some settlements have not
matched inflation and productivity.
Marcus said the bank's concerns related to settlements at all
levels, including executive pay.
(Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by
Stella Mapenzauswa)
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