Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government, Office of the Premier
Cabinet met early this morning to review developments in relation to the nurses' strike at a number of major hospitals. The views that were taken and the resolution we adopted were as follows.
1. Cabinet recognises the poor conditions of services and appalling levels of pay which are a feature of the nursing sector - and of other sectors of the public service which we inherited a mere 16 months ago. While levels of pay remain totally unacceptable, it must be pointed out that this year's national negotiations on public service pay led to a groundbreaking increase of minimum wages in the sector.
Cabinet also took note of the fact that the present nurses strike has been mounted by unorganised workers and that the major trade unions in the sector - Hospersa, Nehawu and SANA - have condemned the action. We commend the unions for a demonstrating leadership in this critical situation.
2. Cabinet members expressed their fullest support for the actions taken by MEC for Health Amos Masondo and senior officials in handling the strike. It commended them for their sensitivity to workers' grievances and for their totally "hands on" approach, which involved talking to workers wherever and whenever industrial action erupted. We firmly believe that they madeevery attempt - at the risk of public criticism - to settle matters amicably.
3. Having said that, the Cabinet recognised that it has both a moral and a constitutional obligation to take decisive action when attempts are made to break down an essential service - a service that is, in fact, the property of the people of this country. We cannot stand as passive onlookers while the actions of our workers lead to large scale suffering for the people of this province. We are more than concerned at the deaths that have taken place during the strike.
4. We have been constantly mindful of the fact that we have an obligation to all the citizens of Gauteng. There are clear indications that the patience of the people of Gauteng is wearing thin, although they have shown great restraint so far.
Unsatisfactory as the nurses' position is, this Government has to put its energies into programmes of growth and development for people whose condition is considerably worse than that of health workers. It has an overriding responsibility to the unemployed - who number some 5 million across this country and who constitute no less than 39% of those living in this province.
5. Consequently, Cabinet resolved: "To support the steps taken by the MEC in dealing with the illegal nurses' strike and to back the dismissal of those nurses who do not return to work within the deadlines stipulated in the ultimatum of 7 September and who are unable to adequately explain their absence from work."
The relevant deadlines are: 3pm today for day shift workers and 7pm this evening for night shift nurses.
We urge everybody to return to work.
Premier Tokyo Sexwale September 8 1995