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- South Africa’s largest public sector workers’ union has been protesting outside various hospitals across the country since the beginning of the week, disrupting hospital services and functioning of educational institutions. The protest, involving union members in health and education, has run into its second week
South Africa’s largest public sector workers’ union has been protesting outside various hospitals across the country since the beginning of the week, disrupting hospital services and functioning of educational institutions. The protest, involving union members in health and education, has run into its second week.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union is demanding a 10% wage increase. However, the government is sticking to a 4.7% increase. Protesters maintained that they would continue with protest until their demands are fully met. Police are closely monitoring the protests. Medical personnel were deployed to several public hospitals to mitigate the consequences of a strike that the government says has caused several deaths. Several military health practitioners were deployed to various hospitals and they would continue to function in those hospitals, where they are deployed during the strike time.
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The strike is affecting several public hospitals. It began a week ago with a work stoppage by nursing and maintenance staff demanding a 10% pay rise. The courts ordered a ban on the strike as it is an essential service. But the strikers said they would continue to observe the strike till their demand is met.
