Health unions in Limpopo have suspended their plans to go on strike over a new roster following a meeting with the provincial health department.
The Limpopo department of health introduced a new roster this year as it accused thousands of its health workers of milking it of nearly R2bn in the past two years by allegedly manipulating rosters to create the need for overtime pay. The new roster cut overtime and allowed employees to work 40 hours a week.
This angered unions in the sector, who threatened to go on strike on Monday.
Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) provincial secretary Jacob Molepo said a meeting was held with the Limpopo health department on Friday and an agreement was made for the unions and management to enter into negotiations.
“The department acceded to our demand to withdraw the duty roaster and we came up with a process of consultation. Our main concern as organised labour was that the department did not consult us,” Molepo said.
“With the new circular that the department was imposing, if you are called from home during your resting time, when you come to work it was no longer going to be regarded as overtime. If you worked 20 hours, they would add those hours to those you have already worked. If you have reached 40 hours a week and you were called to work, you will be paid with hours, not with money,” he said.
He said the old shift system would be implemented while the unions and the department try to find a solution.
Seven health unions wrote to the department on February 26 threatening to go on strike over what they described as unilateral changes to the terms and conditions of employment.
One doctor who spoke to Sowetan last week said the implementation of the new roster bordered on unfair labour practices as healthcare workers would abandon patients in a rush to knock off.
But according to the department, the old system was too costly. The department said no less than R15.7bn, which is 70% of its R22.6bn budget, is spent on staff compensation. This is more than the norm of 60% of the budget expenditure on salaries. It leaves just 30% of the budget for actual health services, at times leaving some facilities running short of essential items.
Limpopo health department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana confirmed that the new roster has been suspended but declined to comment any further.
“We are no longer giving any media interviews on the issue until engagements with the unions are finalised,” Shikwambana said.
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