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Fedusa condemns Netcare employer's failure to resolve wage negotiation (Media Releases)
3 months ago
2 June 2010 The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) are seriously concerned that Netcare has made no effort to avert a full-blown strike by its Affiliate the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA (HOSPERSA) at 11 Netcare Hospitals in 5 provinces. Workers are demanding a 12% wage, while Netcare has only offered 8.5% that has been declined by workers.
According to HOSPERSA General Secretary Noel Desfontaines, the strike is something that the union has wanted to avoid but the fact that the employer has not “come to the party” has left the union with no other choice.
“We did not want to strike and last week we started picketing, but we've since heard no word from management. This means that they are now taking us for granted,” said Desfontaines.
FEDUSA Deputy General Secretary Gretchen Humphries also agrees that the strike could have been avoided and that the employers need to be condemned for their lack of communication with their workers.
“As a Federation we stand in support with HOSPERSA and must reiterate that strike is never the first option of action during wage negotiation but that it’s the very last resort. We know that HOSPERSA started off with picketing but was ignored by Netcare management. We therefore condemn Netcare for not resolving the matter sooner,” said Humphries.
FEDUSA is the largest politically non-aligned trade union federation in South Africa and represents a diverse membership from a variety of sectors in industry. See www.fedusa.org.za for more information.
For comments contact:
FEDUSA DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
GRETCHEN HUMPHRIES
082 871 7692
HOSPERSA GENERAL SECRETARY
NOEL DESFONTAINES
083 321 4427