/ 24 June 2009

Govt expected to table new salary offer for doctors

The Health Department is expected to table a new, revised salary offer for doctors, reports said on Wednesday.

South African Broadcasting Corporation News reported that the revised offer on the occupation-specific dispensation (OSD) would be tabled at the Public Service Bargaining Council in Pretoria.

The revised offer is expected to top the earlier 2% to 5%, which was rejected by doctors.

The bargaining council told the Sowetan on Tuesday that it was sceptical about the revised offer.

”It would be a dramatic turn if the government increases its offer to 15%.

”We know they are going to push it up, but as to by how much is difficult to say. I guess we all have to wait and see what they bring to the table tomorrow [Wednesday],” said bargaining council secretary general Mpumelelo Sibiya.

The revised offer came after doctors downed instruments, protesting against delays in implementing the OSD — an adjustment of salary grades for public servants in order to reward their experience and skill level.

Some KwaZulu-Natal and Free State hospitals were shut down on Tuesday as doctors took to the streets in protest over delays in implementing the new salary scale, the South African Registrars’ Association (Sara) said.

”Only hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal and Free State were shut down due to the strike action on Tuesday.

”Gauteng and the Eastern Cape decided to await the outcome of tomorrow’s [Wednesday’s] meeting,” Sara president Lebogang Phahladira said on Tuesday. — Sapa