Issued by: Department of Health 5 September 1995 We are very concerned about the strike happening at Baragwanath. We are concerned about the lives of patients at this hospital and the general health care situation of the community. We understand the poor conditions of service under which they are working which we inherited from the previous government. It was for this reason that Minister NC Dlamini Zuma appointed a Committee to develop a National Health Insurance System. The report is being finalized.
The Department of Health is doing everything possible to ensure that working conditions are improved as spelled out in the Report of the National Health System for Universal Primary Health Care. However, these conditions cannot be changed overnight. There are constraints to immediate action, which appeal to nurses to appreciate.
Firstly, the salaries for health personnel were negotiated at the last Central Bargaining Chamber. Agreement was reached to give public servants 5% pay increase. The request from nurses at Baragwanath for 25% should be examined within the framework of the bargaining Chamber's agreements. In light of that it is obvious that the health sector government officials have no mandate to increase the salaries outside this agreement. Moreover, the Health Department has no authority to change salary structures outside the Central Bargaining Chamber. We therefore, request that the workers should honour the agreements reached at the Bargaining Chamber.
This agreement was entered into by all Unions and Staff organisations represented at the Central Bargaining Chamber. According to the Public Service Labour Relations Act the Agreement is binding to all Public Service employees.
It should be noted, however, that within the Bargaining Chamber, there is a task team charged with responsibility to develop a three year plan for the improvement of conditions of service. We wish to assure nurses that issues relating to conditions of service and salaries which fall under the investigation of this task team will form the basis of negotiations for salary improvements in the next financial year.
We appeal to the nurses to return to work and prevent any loss of life. We urge them to rethink their professional calling to putting human lives above all else.
ENQUIRIES: VINCENT HLONGWANE
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