Government workers affiliated to the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) have shut down the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein as they continue with an indefinite wage strike. Hundreds of patients, nurses and doctors were denied access to the premises since early morning while others returned home.
Protesting union members continued with the wage strike despite this being interdicted after wage talks with the government collapsed.
The Department of Public Service and Administration issued a statement that it has successfully interdicted the indefinite strike that was planned by Nehawu from today – Monday (06/03). “Government will continue to call on all the trade unions to go back to the Bargaining Chamber to negotiate and resolve matters through dialogue.”
In their red gear, unhappy Nehawu members have barricaded all entrance points to Pelonomi Hospital with burning tyres and various debris such as stones. Garbage not collected by the Mangaung Metro Municipality came to good use as striking workers used them to barricade the entrances and start fires. Thick, black smoke can be seen billowing into the air.
The protesting workers’ chant for a 10% increase and better working conditions could be heard from a distance. The demands include a R2 500 housing allowance, and the permanent appointment of nurses currently on contract due to a shortage of nursing staff. Those qualifying for housing allowances get R1 200.
“This is the beginning of a total shutdown; no services will be rendered until our demands are met by the stubborn government. The government is the common enemy of the people who are suffering, yet they tell people they are a caring government,” said one union member.
They bitterly lament working strenuous hours because of the shortage of nurses.
“There are lots of trained and qualified nurses, yet the government is not employing them, and then expected the few employed ones to deliver everything and render quality services,” said another nurse.
Nehawu had planned to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday after serving a strike notice on 24 February. The union accused the government of reneging on the final year of a three-year agreement in 2021.
In 2021/22, the parties reached an agreement that included a R1 000 non-pensionable allowance after tax. However, in the following year of 2022, talks deadlocked again after government unilaterally implemented a 3% increase (R2 000) plus the gratuity, arguing that this amounted to a 7% increase – which unions disputed.
