Maravi

Striking health workers refuse to resume work

Striking health workers refuse to resume work
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe and Mwila Chansa
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 6:11:40 PM

STRIKING health workers in Lusaka have rejected persuasions by health permanent secretary Dr Velepi Mtonga and their unions to resume work. And Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) Ndola branch chairperson Joy Beene has warned that the strike by health workers may prolong if not handled properly.

During the meeting held by Ministry of Health, union leaders and health workers last Tuesday, Dr Mtonga told the workers that it was not possible for the government to increase their allowances this year.

Dr Mtonga pleaded with the striking nurses and other health workers to go back to work.

But the health workers on Wednesday refused to resume work after they were addressed by Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) president Thom Yung'ana.

Yung'ana urged the nurses to return to work as the agreement had already been signed.

However, the nurses refused and demanded that they be met half way if they were to resume work.

Zambia National Union of Health and Allied Workers (ZNUHAW) president Ozias Banda said the bargaining process was over and that they were now putting up a technical committee to look into the issues.

"Dr Mtonga on Tuesday actually pleaded with the nurses to resume work and there was total silence and when we left them, we thought they were discussing the way forward but this morning [Wednesday], they gathered at the same place," Banda said.

CSAWUZ general secretary Darison Chaala urged union members nationwide to return to work following the signing of a collective agreement on Monday.

Chaala said the collective agreement signed between the government and the union secured a salary/wage increase of 15 per cent across the board for all public service employees and provided for continued negotiations on housing allowance.

He said the collective agreement covered all unionized civil servants in general salary scales GSS 08 to GSS 15 and medical salary scales MS04 to MS11.

"Meanwhile, a joint task force consisting of government and union officials shall be constituted to deal with all outstanding issues on housing allowance. The union is assuring its members that the continued discussions on housing allowance shall deal with the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the disputed 2003 housing allowance rates. The expected review of housing allowance rate shall, therefore be consistent with the spirit and content of the signed MoU on this matter," he said.

Chaala urged the members to resume work immediately to avoid any further disruption of public services.

He said the union remained indebted to its members nationwide who had demonstrated their continued support and solidarity during the period of protracted negotiations.

The nurses were still in a meeting with their union leader by press time.

And Beene, who is also spokesperson for the striking health workers in Ndola, said threats from the government would only aggravate the already 'hot' situation.

Speaking at Ndola Central Hospital cafeteria where health workers met yesterday, Beene urged the government not to insinuate that the health workers' strike were political.

"These meetings are not political and if they are political then it's about politics of the stomach," Beene said amidst shouts of "insala!" in the audience.

He challenged government leaders and parliamentarians from both the ruling and opposition political parties to give up their mid-term gratuity if they really cared about the plight of those that were dying as a result of the strike.

"If MPs love those that are dying, then this is my serious earnest appeal to them: forfeit those gratuities and donate it to the nurses; after all, a lot of nurses can share that K480 million," he said.

Beene observed that it was immoral for the leaders both in the opposition and ruling parties to go ahead and get their gratuities when hospitals and clinics had been closed and people were dying.

Later in an interview, Beene said the workers had vowed not to resume work until their leaders meet them in Kitwe tomorrow to chart the way forward.

He explained that the national union leadership had indicated that they wanted to go round districts in the province to justify the signing of the 15 per cent salary increment but that the members were opposed to this and wanted to be met as an entire group.

"To this effect, all nurses and health workers on the Copperbelt will meet in Kitwe on Friday so that the national leaders address us together. That is where we will decide whether to go back for work or not depending on the explanation they will give," Beene said.

He also hinted that the Kitwe meeting would probably be the last time that national leaders would address the health workers as representatives because they would pass a vote of no confidence in them.

Beene said the members had information that the government would issue circulars that were intimidatory in nature but that threats would not work.

He explained that the health workers were not against the government but had waged a war against their union leaders.

Beene said members wanted their local leaders to engage the provincial permanent secretary so that they could explain what they wanted since their leaders had failed them.

The strike by health workers countrywide has continued for over a month now and hospitals are being manned by doctors, senior and student nurses while some clinics in some parts of the country are as good as closed.

Labels: HEALTHCARE, NURSES, STRIKE

posted by MrK @ 5:09 PM