This comes after trade unions and NTP still failed to reach an agreement in the second mediation session, which was facilitated yesterday by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

At the request of the CCMA, trade unions have agreed in good faith not to give 48 hours’ notice for a strike before the final mediation attempt, now scheduled for 1 July, has taken place. If an agreement is still not reached at that meeting, Solidarity and PWU can give immediate notice for a strike.

Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans emphasized that the negotiations at NTP have now reached a critical point. “NTP is directly involved in relieving the worldwide shortage of an essential medical isotope used in radiology and the company can absolutely not afford to lose capacity because of a strike,” Kleynhans explained. “Owing to the type of service that NTP provides, the CCMA initially did not want to issue a strike certificate to trade unions, but after two failed mediation rounds facilitated by the CCMA, the commission had no other option. The only and last effort to avert a strike at the company will take place during a last meeting next week.”

During a previous mediation round there was the possibility of an interim agreement, but the employer has changed its mandate in the meantime.

A final mediation attempt by the CCMA to avert the strike has been scheduled for 1 July.