Striking members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union will review an offer by the Department of Social Development aimed at ending a strike by social workers.
The offer was tabled at a meeting in Tshwane on Wednesday in response to a memorandum of demands which led to the current strike.
The demands include a rural allowance and that the department permanently employ all contract workers in the gender-based violence centres. They striking workers also want better salaries.
NEHAWU national spokesperson, Khaya Xaba, said they will take the offer to their members on Thursday after which the union will decide on whether or not to continue with the strike.
"As the national union, we noted the employer's response and agreed on a mandating process utilising the entire day of Thursday to consult our members on the picket lines," Xaba said.
The two parties will then meet later on in the day to report back on the workers' decision.
During the strike a six month baby died. Little Singalakha Sonamazi died on Tuesday after being moved from Walter Sisulu Child and Youth Care Centre in Soweto to Bethany Trust Home, a charity home in Krugersdorp, because of the ongoing strike by social workers.
Responding to whether the baby's death was reason for there being an offer, Xaba said nthe meeting was not prompted by Singalakha's death, adding that maybe the department "might have gotten a wake up call".
