An illegal strike by doctors planned for this week was not authorised by the South African Medical Association (Sama), the union said on Sunday.
”Sama cannot legally condone the strike,” said spokesperson Norman Mabasa.
”We are waiting to see whether it will happen or not.”
Eastern Cape department of health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said his department was aware of the strike threat but said they were prepared for it.
”We don’t anticipate a total shutdown,” said Kupelo.
He explained that the province employs about 2 000 private doctors on a part-time basis who can temporarily be called upon to fill slots left vacant by striking doctors. Kupelo also claimed that doctors were not necessarily keen on a total shutdown.
”We have been engaging with doctors and they would rather engage in a go-slow than a total shutdown,” he said.
Sama only represents about 7 000 of the 14 000 to 17 000 public-sector doctors. Mabasa said that those threatening the strike were not Sama members though he acknowledged that union doctors might participate in the strike.
”They have been frustrated by the negotiation process,” said Mabasa.
Public-sector doctors have been at odds with the government, which they claim has not fulfilled its obligations under the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD).
The 2007 agreement between the government and public sector workers on the OSD outlined detailed deadlines for the implementation of the pay scheme. The OSD for all categories of nurses was meant to take effect from July 1 2007 and phased in over three years.
For medical officers, medical specialists, dentists, pharmacologists, pharmacists and emergency workers, the deadline for the implementation of the OSD was July 1 2008.
The agreement also stated that the negotiation processes had to be finalised two months before the stipulated implementation date, which failed to happen in most sectors.
On Sunday, the Sunday Times reported that a Sama official had threatened a strike beginning on Monday in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape and spreading throughout the other provinces in the course of the week.
Mabasa said the Sama official was a regional committee member and claimed that it was a misunderstanding about whether the strike was supported by the union.
”If it takes place we will be watching very closely.”
”We want a resolution with the agreement before people take the law into their own hands,” said Mabasa. – Sapa