The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called on government to urgently implement occupation specific pay rises for medical doctors.
In a statement on Wednesday highlighting resolutions taken at its 13th National Congress held at the weekend, the NUM called on government to ”immediately implement Organisational Specific Dispensation (OSD)” for medical doctors.
”We have a huge migration of doctor overseas and into the private sector resulting in workers being unable to access quality health care. Most of them use the public sector, so we call upon government to implement this as a matter of urgency,” said NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka.
Delays by government in implementing OSD for doctors was at the root of recent industrial action and protests by doctors across the country, plunging the health care system into disarray.
The union, however, raised concern about ”wild cat strikes” organised by the United Doctors’ Forum (UDF) and a ”lack of class consciousness” in the sector. It said the South African Medical Association (Sama) was under pressure, which might result in the formation of a breakaway union.
”[We] call on the UDF to desist any temptation to form another union outside Sama, but to work with Sama to address any organisational challenges,” the union said.
Seshoka said the NUM would provide ”organisational assistance” to Sama.
”We will check what their needs are, it is clear that Sama requires political education … and we will assist them to forge unity,” he said, adding the union had an interest in ensuring that doctors’ woes were addressed as they served the workers and the poor.
”Congress calls on medical doctors to always remember that patients to public hospitals constitute the poorest of the poor as such without the service of medical doctors they remain vulnerable,” the union said.
On industrial policy, the union resolved to campaign for and ensure the re-nationalisation of Sasol and Mittal Steel.
”This is very high on our agenda and has been for some time,” Seshoka said.
The union also called for an increase in the benefits to communities in mining areas. It resolved that a ”national democratic, state-led industrial policy promoting a labour-intensive manufacturing sector is the basis to transform, diversify and build a vibrant economy.
”This industrial policy should link actively with and support our major infrastructure development, skills development, and equitable spatial development.”
On retrenchments, the NUM resolved that when disputes arose the labour minister should have the power to intervene before the matter was brought before the labour court.
While the congress did not discuss the issue of illegal mining — which recently saw the death of more than 60 people in the Free State — Seshoka said the growing practice posed a threat in the sector.
He said mining companies should invest in better security measures to prevent illegal mining in the first place.
”They have one security official at the entrance… and this is just not enough. They must invest in proper security to prevent people from entering these mines,” he said.
The NUM also took a resolution for Teba Bank, wholly owned by the NUM and the Chamber of Mines, to become a workers’ bank.
”This bank should improve its marketing strategy in order to gain full recognition by the parties and working as a commercial bank.” — Sapa