By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The workers, who down tools for the past two days at the Zeerust Hospital, have resolved to return to work. This comes after they had a consultative engagement with the North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari.
The workers who are affiliated to DENOSA, NEHAWU and HOSPERSA unions, have been protesting for the past two days. They presented several issues which they demanded should be addressed.
These issues were contained in a Memorandum of Demands (MoD), which was handed over to Lehari and was also read in the presence of all those who were in attendance.
The main issue among the demands raised was payment of the 30% overtime. This issue was seen as a contributing factor or as a result of other associated issues of demands like shortage of personnel, which they said was at a critical level, filling of replacement posts, the old and non-responsive structure.
This also includes too many acting positions, translation of the ranks of some of the employees and appointment of a full time CEO. Other issues raised include providing personnel for distribution of patients’ food, management of the food service tender, the need to be consulted on nurses’ uniform, renovated wards remain unused and the need to upgrade the hospital infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Lehari, who was accompanied by the provincial, district and hospital management team, together with the chairperson of the hospital board and the local councillor, allowed workers to present their issues. When responding to the workers’ demands, Lehari assured the workers that the majority of the issues raised are being attended to except that there seems to be a communication gap between management and the workers.
He was however quick to point out that the purpose of the meeting was to find solutions.
“The core issue which is payment of overtime exceeding 30% is receiving attention at the highest level. At the provincial level, the CFO has assured me that the department has managed to set aside about R51 million to pay all workers categories, who are illegible.
“The department is ready to pay. We only await approval from the National Department of Public Service and Administration and I can assure you of my commitment to make a follow-up with the national ministry,” said Lehari.
He further said within seven days, he will come to give them feedback. Lehari added that both management and the unions will have planned meetings to discuss all the issues raised by the workers.
“For example, I informed the workers that the department has set aside R71 million for upgrading the hospital. The project is about to start, yet the workers did not know. The workers were also not aware that the demand for filling of posts was being addressed as the nurses’ posts were to be advertised.
“The meeting ended on a positive note as the workers resolved to return to work. The acting Hospital CEO made a commitment to work with the unions to resolve all the outstanding issues and to brief the workers on a regular basis,” he said.
The Guardian 