Threats to dismiss striking health workers could only provoke workers’ anger and undermine current ”sensitive” negotiations, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) said.
”Dismissing workers would not work towards addressing the current public-service crisis. [The] root-cause of which is total disregard of workers demands by government,” the union said in a statement on Saturday.
Nehawu believed that negotiations were the ”the only way to reach an amicable solution”.
Provincial health ministers were called upon to find alternatives — rather than threats of dismissal — by engaging with trade unions to find a common solution to the crisis at hospitals.
On Saturday, the health department said it would issue striking nurses with their marching orders.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said ”provincial health departments should commence issuing letters of termination of service with immediate effect”.
Nehawu said it condemned the ”threats and intimidation” by the minister to dismiss health workers on strike.
”Such threats could only provoke more anger from the workers and undermine the current negotiation in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council which are at the sensitive stage.”
The situation at health facilities was also a direct consequence of government’s failure to sign minimum service agreements with unions.
The union was ready to defend its members ”at all costs”, it said.
Speaking in Pretoria, Tshabalala-Msimang could not say how many health workers would be fired.
It was a small group, not including many who wanted to return to work, but could not for fear of intimidation, she said.
Public-service unions went on strike on June 1 with crippling effects at many public-health facilities.
Following a marathon session of talks lasting into the early hours of Sunday morning, government and public service union negotiators were set to meet again on Sunday afternoon.
The meeting was set to resume at around 1pm.
On Friday, public-service unions reduced their demand for a 12% wage hike to 10%.
Earlier in the week, the government upped its offer from 6% to 6,5%.
Taxi drivers called to strike
Taxi drivers and owners in the Free State and Northern Cape were called upon to support the strike, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Sunday.
Provincial spokesperson Sam Mashini said taxi operators were asked to join the strike because public-sector workers effectively generated their income by using taxis to get to and from work.
”We will encourage a peaceful strike, and hope that they will join us in this struggle — it will help create a stronger voice.”
He said the various taxi associations would meet with Cosatu on Monday to discuss their possible involvement in the strike. – Sapa