Nehawu strike leaves several Gauteng hospitals with skeleton staff
The Department of Health in Gauteng says the strike by members of trade union Nehawu has impacted services at several hospitals in the province.
Nehawu members downed tools on Monday.
They are demanding a wage increase of between 10 and 12%, while government has so far only offered a hike of 4.7%.
The Department of Public Service and Administration maintains the strike is unprotected after it obtained a court interdict preventing the labour action from going ahead, while the union says it intends to appeal the Labour Court ruling.
Gauteng Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says emergency personnel have been threatened by some of the protesters.
“Several of our facilities are affected by the fact that the members of Nehawu have embarked on this particular strike. We are affected because normal services are affected, we’ve got skeleton staff in some of the facilities. Ambulances are struggling to transport patients due to intimidation.
“We have called on the law enforcement agency to assist in order for hospitals to give patients medical care. Even though people have the right to protest, they cannot infringe on the rights of others to receive medical care”.
Modiba says due to the court interdict the no work no pay principle will apply.
“The no work no pay principle will apply given that there is a court interdict that the Department of Public Service would have already obtained. Among the affected hospitals are Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, Bheki Mhlangeni, Heidelburg and Sebokeng hospital.”
Meanwhile, Nehawu said that it believes the judge made an error of law and therefore launched an appeal against the judgment.
"We believe strongly that the Labour Appeal Court will arrive at a different conclusion on the matter. Having launched an appeal of today's judgment, the national union will be forging ahead with the public service strike until a determination is made on our appeal at the LAC.”
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