Lab workers picket over wages
The nationwide strike which began last week Wednesday follows failed wage negotiations between NHLS management and National Education Health & Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU), which represents majority of the workers
A group of National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) workers picketed outside the Lower uMfolozi Regional War Memorial Hospital on Monday as part of a national strike calling for a wage increase, among other demands.
The nationwide strike which began last week Wednesday follows failed wage negotiations between NHLS management and National Education Health & Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), which represents majority of the workers.
‘After its national bargaining forum meeting, the union decided to serve the NHLS with a seven-day strike notice on 18 July to commence the strike on 26 July,’ Nehawu said in the statement last week.
Among the workers’ demands is a ‘salary adjustment of 7.3%, housing allowance of R2 000 per month and a shift allowance of R50 or 45% of hourly rates, whichever is the greater.’
NHLS is the largest diagnostic pathology service in the country which provides lab and other public health services to more than 80% of the population.
Acting CEO of NHLS, Prof Shabir Madhi, said they will ‘operationalise contingency plans to mitigate the risk of compromising the lives of South Africans dependent
on the public health sector.’
‘All NHLS provincial area managers will be working with their counterparts in the provincial health departments to address challenges that are specific to their provinces. The ultimate aim is to ensure that all emergency tests are prioritised to minimise the effect of this strike action on patient care,’ Madhi said in a statement.
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