Maravi

Feel for the poor

Feel for the poor
Written by Editor

IT is very important for those in leadership to acknowledge that things are not well in the country. It is only after this realisation that they will begin to offer leadership. The continued strike by health workers has exposed the leadership’s failure to address their demands.

It is over a month now since our health workers in most parts of the country downed tools, demanding improved conditions of service. The workers say they are unable to sustain themselves and their families on their meagre salaries. The nurses have even gone to an extent of revealing their housing and uniform allowances; such low figures which seriously need to be reviewed.

What followed was the signing of the 15 per cent salary increment by their union leaders, and this was rejected. The health workers say they were not consulted and vowed as at last week to continue with their strike. On the other hand, government resorted to threatening the health workers to either return to work or resign.

This strike has caused untold suffering and deaths among the people, especially the poor who cannot afford to go to a private hospital. The stories that we continue to get from our hospitals are worrying and the situation needs to be addressed. People are dying of preventable diseases simply because some clinics are closed or where they are open, there are no workers to attend to them. People are being forced to stay in their homes and wait for death. Our women are having to deliver in public places and in some cases they are even losing their children because of lack of medical attention.

Clearly, there is need for this strike to come to an end before the situation worsens. There is need for a solution to this protracted strike by those in government before the country loses more lives. There is need for those in government to listen to Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba who is saying that the demands by the health workers in the country are genuine and need to be addressed with the seriousness that they deserve.

Hikaumba says: “There shouldn’t be any statements that are likely to aggravate the situation as it is already bad. I would like to appeal to government to stop issuing threats and statements that are intimidatory because the aim is to arrive at an amicable solution. Such statements from the minister will only aggravate the situation. We believe that problems are always there but as long as people are willing to talk, to discuss and understand each other, there is nothing impossible in finding a solution. The issue is complex but the demands are genuine. In fact demands by all government workers are genuine and certain things need to be looked into to deal with the problem.”

Indeed this strike will not end through empty threats. This strike will only end through honest efforts aimed at seeking a lasting solution. This strike will only end through proper dialogue and compromise. Threats will only cement the resolve of the health workers to stay away from work. An honest and open approach from this government is what it will take to resolve this issue that is killing the poor.

There is need for Rupiah Banda and his friends in government to understand that labour disputes can only be resolved through negotiations. And we have always said that when you negotiate, you have to accept the integrity of the other side. When you negotiate, you must be prepared to compromise. Negotiated solutions can be found even to disputes that seem impossible to resolve, and such solutions emerge when all parties reach out to find common ground. But you cannot negotiate when – in all sorts of ways – you threaten and demean people who have a genuine cause and are doing a noble job in society.

If you are only prepared to issue threats and remind health workers how they should not expect to get more money than you the minister who is their boss, if you are only prepared to remind the workers that their strike is illegal, and not to compromise, you cannot negotiate. Both the striking health workers and the government need to reach a compromise, bearing in mind all the issues raised and find a solution. If neither party is prepared to compromise, then they must not think of negotiations at all. This is the nature of negotiations; this is the nature of compromise. It is possible to negotiate and compromise on fundamental issues.

The health workers have also been complaining about the 15 per cent salary increment which they say their union leaders signed without their consent. The unions explained that they sent representatives to all the country’s provinces for feedback before they signed the deal with government. Much as we may not really know the extent of sincerity on the part of all concerned on this matter, it is important for both the workers and their union leaders to work together, to speak with one voice.

Trade union leaders are there to represent their members, and they should at all times ensure that they do that fairly. The workers should also be ready to listen to their leaders to avoid the confusion which is pertaining following the signing of the rejected 15 per cent salary increment. Union leaders cannot afford to serve their own interests before that of the members they represent. Theirs is to ensure that they represent the workers’ interests and this can only be done through proper dialogue and compromise on various issues.

We strongly feel that the health workers have a genuine demand, and it is a pity that they seem to be ignored. However, we urge them to return to work. We understand that they have a genuine cause and they deserve to be heard. But they should return to work as their union leaders continue to negotiate with those in government. The strike will only continue to affect the poor in the country, the vulnerable who cannot afford to access medical care in private hospitals and clinics. We urge the government and the striking workers to feel for the poor.

Labels: STRIKE

posted by MrK @ 3:09 PM