Maravi

We can’t survive on nobility – health workers

We can’t survive on nobility – health workers
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe in Lusaka and Mutuna Chanda in Ndola
Friday, June 26, 2009 4:06:48 PM

STRIKING health workers in Lusaka have refused to go back to work, saying they cannot survive on nobility.And health workers on the Copperbelt on Wednesday resolved to continue with their strike action after labour minister Austin Liato pleaded that he could not immediately respond to their demands. During a check by The Post at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), nurses were found sitting near the car park.

One of the health workers, who declined to be named for fear of victmisation, said they would not resume work and were still waiting for feedback from their union leaders.

"We are not agreeable with what the President said yesterday. As much as we chose to be nurses, we need to be motivated. He said our career is a noble one but we can't eat nobility. They are saying that the government has no money but where did [former human resource manager in the Ministry of Health Henry] Kapoko get the money? This case was an eye opener to health workers," the health worker said.

The health worker warned that should any health worker be fired, they would "spill the beans."

"I also want to appeal to the nurses that are easily swept by stories that let's stick together. We are waiting because our union leaders are supposed to be in a meeting so we will wait but no money, no work. If it takes six months to respond to our need, then so be it. If they fire us, we will join the private sector or go abroad," the health worker said.

The worker said their colleagues were always looking for greener pastures.

Another health worker said the UTH human resource department had threatened not to give the health workers their June salary.

"As far as we are concerned, we are getting our salaries because if we don't get them then, they will be going to another person," the health worker said.

They also insisted that no political leader or media organisation was inciting them to continue with the strike.

"When we started the strike, it was not because we were incited by anyone, it was our payslips, leave the opposition leaders alone, they are innocent, and leave The Post alone, they are just doing their job. That's why we also like Muvi television because they report the truth like The Post," one of the health workers said. "The Bible says 'people will hate you when you tell the truth but the truth will set you free'."

The health workers said they appreciated President Banda's speech yesterday but as father of the nation, he should consider the suffering of the ones that put him into power.

They also said there were so many ordinary people that needed specialist treatment abroad but could not be flown out by the government.

They said as nurses, they treated everybody the same whether they belonged to the ruling party or to the opposition.

"Whether PF, MMD or UPND, we treat anyone equally so no one is inciting us, it's our payslips. We see a lot of children and people on television appealing for assistance to go out of the country, why aren't they helped by the government like politicians?" one of the nurses asked.

And student nurses are now working from 18:00 hours to 07:00 hours in the morning instead of studying.

One of the student nurses complained that this might affect their examinations, which had been postponed due to the strike.

And on the Copperbelt Province on Wednesday, Liato instead said he needed to consult over the health workers' demands and that he would return with a response.

The health workers who were clad in black attire and gathered in the Ndola Central Hospital cafeteria initially heckled Liato when he tried to relate to their aggression as they chanted slogans before laying their demands.

"I have been representing workers for 16 years," Liato said as the health workers shouted unison: "Awe! Awe!"

Liato then pleaded with the health workers to listen to him and proposed that they give him their grievances before he responded.

One of the workers, who said she had been a nurse for over 16 years, compared some of the allowances on her payslips in 1990 and 2009 and lamented that nothing much had changed.

"If you have come here and are expecting that we will go back to work, that won't happen. In 1990 my night duty allowance was K12,000, my overtime was K20,000. This is 2009, today my night duty allowance is K30,000, commuted overtime allowance K40,000. Shame!" the health worker said as her colleagues echoed the word.

"Honourable minister, slave trade ended a long time ago. We are not slaves, be realistic in things. You are telling us you are going to fire us. These allowances I've told you, to some of you in government that is small change. That is the money you give to your children to go and buy sweets. Ministry of Health is one of the richest ministries in the country. We know this because we've seen how much money is being stolen and wasted. Honourable minister enough is enough. We have been listening today, our ears are blocked; we are deaf. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar."

She asked Liato to report that health workers on the Copperbelt would not report for work if their allowances were not improved in line with their demands and further said they would not resign because they loved their jobs.

"Night duty allowance K1.9 million un-debatable! Seven days of working night duty is not a joke. People sacrifice; they leave their babies, they leave their husbands, they leave their wives for seven days. We have all slept at funerals and we know what it means to spend a night at a funeral. Overtime allowance K500,000. Uniform allowance and upkeep K1.5 million, our risk allowance should be K1 million un-debatable."

In response, Liato said President Rupiah Banda did not ask health workers to resign and neither did he say that he would fire them but that he asked Cabinet and deputy ministers who did not tow with his vision to step down and that the government was willing to negotiate with the striking health workers.

Liato said he had not travelled to the Copperbelt to intimidate health workers but was there to understand clearly what their problems were.

One of the health workers told Liato that members of parliament needed to forego their mid-term gratuity, saying when it came to their allowances, lawmakers indicated that it was their entitlement but did not treat health workers' demands as such.

In responding to mid-term gratuity, Liato said President Banda had indicated that he would consult over the matter before making a decision.

Liato said opposition parliamentarians had kept quiet over the mid-term gratuity because it suited them.

He urged health workers to demand that opposition parliamentarians also forego their mid-term gratuity.

The health workers then chided Liato not to involve politics in addressing them.

Another health worker demanded that they be paid their gratuity for working under the Central Board of Health (CBOH) after it was abolished before they were re-engaged by the Ministry of Health.

He said health workers were served with letters of offer beginning this year that they were re-employed by the Ministry of Health following the abolition of CBOH.

Later, Liato sought leave to enable him consult over the demands the health workers had presented to him.

And as Liato was leaving, he introduced Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba as the next speaker but the workers booed the labour leader.

The workers heckled Hikaumba and called for change as the labour leader tried to address them.

The health workers broke into different songs and chants interrupting Hikaumba whenever he tried to speak.

An ashamed looking Hikaumba tried for over 10 minutes to speak to the workers but to no avail as they chanted and sung "Hikaumba Kuya bebele! [Hikaumba must go!]"

Hikaumba vowed not to leave the podium until he spoke to the workers.

The health workers only allowed Hikaumba to speak after Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) Ndola district chairman Joy Beene pleaded with them to allow him to speak.

"You workers are powerful. Now for my sake let Hikaumba address you," pleaded Beene. "It's these people who are going to defend you."

Hikaumba then addressed the workers by conceding that tempers were high.

Later, Hikaumba was cheered by the health workers after he pledged to protect those who were targets of victimisation by their managements.

"As we are sitting here some people are reporting you to management," said Hikaumba. "We refuse any kind of intimidation. This solidarity you have displayed, no one should be intimidated and suspended. The pledge I made is that if anyone touches any of the workers, that will be war between the union and government. I have told my colleagues that if you are made of wax don't stand in the sun because you will melt. As for me, I stand for the workers and will protect any worker who is going to be victimised. I'm still the same person you've known over the years. I have not changed."

Labels: HEALTHCARE, STRIKE, UTH

posted by MrK @ 3:07 PM