HOSPERSA  -  HEALTH AND OTHER SERVICE PERSONNEL TRADE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA

INDUSTRIAL ACTION AT NETCARE HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE

25 May 2010. Following the recent declaration of a dispute with the management of Netcare hospitals in regard to 2010 wage negotiations, the trade union HOSPERSA, representing Nursing and Administrative staff within the Netcare group has announced that picketing will commence at various Netcare hospitals on Wednesday, 26 May 2010. The affected hospitals are: Gauteng Province: N17 hospital KwaZulu/Natal: St. Augustine’s, Parklands, and Umhlanga hospitals Eastern Cape: Kyler and Greenacres hospitals Free State: Pelenomi and Kroonstad hospitals North West: Ferncrest hospital Noel Desfontaines, General Secretary of HOSPERSA stated that it is uncertain how long the industrial action will last but that would depend largely on the employer. Desfontaines apologised in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused during the picketing. He also pointed out that the shop stewards committee had gone out of its way in its efforts to avert industrial action, but Netcare’s intransigent attitude had left them with no choice but to proceed with the action in order to convince management to reconsider their offer which he maintains is unreasonable. He added that despite the call for a strike, members have agreed to first embark on picketing in order to minimise the effect of service disruption.