Health Department interdicts Nehawu strike in more provinces
The Department of Health says six out of the country's nine provinces have successfully obtained court interdicts against the Nehawu strike.
"Members of Nehawu are not allowed during their strike to disrupt the access to health services to prevent or intimidate the patients, doctors or nurses who want to work and save the lives of our people , so from now on they are interdicted from any form of disruption,” says department spokesperson Foster Mohale.
Workers are demanding a 10% pay increase but have so far been offered 4.7%.
It is largely affected the country's healthcare system with reports of high staff absenteeism, intimidation and the blockading of entrances to some hospitals .
Mohale says the unions’ right to strike should not violate the constitutional right of those who do not want to participate in the strike.
"When they want to exercise their constitutional right to strike, they must also think for our vulnerable patients who are in need of these health services."
Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers says have joined in to say it fully supports the wage increase strike by the public sector unions around the country.
NUM says part of their demands are to fill all vacant posts and insource all the outsourced services.
The union says government should realise that the consequences of a full-blown strike will be devastating for the economy and public services in the country.
"The NUM urges the employers to sit down with the trade unions at PSCBC to find an amicable solution. The employer should engage unions in good faith and realise that the consequences of a full-blown strike will be devastating for the economy and public services.”
