COSATU LIMPOPO FULLY SUPPORTS THE PLANNED PROTECTED STRIKE BY HEALTH SECTOR UNIONS

The Congress of South African Trade Unions in Limpopo throws its weight in full support of the planned protected strike by our unions in the health sector on the 8th March 2021.  The call for a strike action comes after an unresolved dispute of unilateral change to terms and conditions of employment referred to the Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council (PHSDSBC) by the unions in the sector and was conciliated on the 07th December 2020.

 The issue central to the dispute is the arrogant imposition of Circular 43 of 2020 and Circular 4 of 2021 by the Limpopo Department of Health without proper consultation with organized labour. The federation regards these kinds of attitudes by the Department of Health as undermining the established protocols that are there to regulate employer/employee relations and stabilize the labour environment.

 It is not in the interest of our unions to embark on a strike in the middle of a Covid-19 pandemic as the sector is central in our government’s fight against Covid-19 in the province and entire country. The federation therefore supports the call by our unions that the Limpopo Department of Health must unconditionally suspend or withdraw the two circulars with immediate effect and engage organized labour. The MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba is called upon to intervene on the dispute.

 In the main, the federation is making a call to workers in the sector to be mobilized through workplace general meetings and lunch hour pickets in preparation for the protected strike on the 8th March 2021.

 Issued by COSATU Limpopo

 Gerald Mkhomazi Twala (Provincial Secretary)

Mark Shope House

79A Biccard Street

Polokwane

0700

Mobile: 071 587 2872/076 522 8864

E-Mail: gerald@cosatu.org.za