About Hospersa Trade Union South Africa

OUR HISTORY

 

About 60 years ago, a group of public servants employed at provincial hospitals in the public sector identified the need for individual and collective representation, which resulted in the formation of the Hospital Public Servants Association in the former Transvaal. In 1989, it merged with the Association of Cape Provincial Hospitals to form the Hospital Personnel Association of SA. In the same year, employee organisations received recognition and the right to bargain collectively for their members. With the achievement of this milestone and with the growing sense of democracy that pervaded the country, Hospersa sought recognition as a trade union – and was registered with the Department of Labour, as a trade union, on June 3, 1994. Hospersa expanded its operation to the Free State and KZN. In 1995, a further merger occurred when Hospersa and the Natal Provincial Administration Personnel Association amalgamated.

MEMBERSHIP PROFILE

 
As a democratic, worker-driven organisation, Hospersa represents workers in the following sectors:

  • Public Health – All institutions under the national and provincial Departments of Health, including hospitals and nursing colleges.
  • Public Welfare – All institutions under the national and provincial Departments of Social Development.
  • General Public Service – All national and provincial departments.
  • Education – Teachers employed in the Public Service.
  • Private Health – All private hospitals and health care institutions, including Netcare, Medi-Clinic, independent hospitals, the SA National Blood Transfusion Services, the National Health Laboratory Services, pharmacies and rehabilitation centres.
  • Private Welfare – Private and non-governmental organisations rendering welfare services.
  • Private General – Organisations include SA National Parks and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

VISION AND MISSION

 

VISION

Committing to maximum unity among workers in all sectors. Striving for human dignity, effective service delivery and protection of our members’ rights in the workplace as well as in civil society, in line with Hospersa’s Constitution.

MISSION

To render a professional service to all our members through democratically elected structures which are mandated by members in the interests of protecting them against any unfair practices.

To encourage professionalism of all our members towards each other and ensure that the community is treated with respect and dignity.

To promote a democratic labour environment and society, free from any unfair discrimination against gender, religion, race, culture or political beliefs; or any other form of unfair discrimination against any individual or group of people.

To unite and organise in all sectors in which our beliefs, values and aspirations are shared.

OBJECTIVES

 
Hospersa’s Objectives are below:

  • To regulate relations between employees and their employers and to promote the interests of such employees;
  • To build a strong and democratic organisation of workers at the workplace through active Shop Steward Councils that are able to participate in various platforms of dialogue, in the spirit of democracy;
  • To work towards uniting all workers in improving their remuneration and working conditions;
  • To strive for the right to take collective and secondary action;
  • To resist privatisation, casualisation, retrenchment and strive for full employment;
  • To end all forms of discrimination in employment;
  • To strive for proper and accessible training to develop the skills of all workers;
  • To promote safe and healthy working conditions;
  • To promote or oppose any laws or administrative measures that affect the right and/or interests of our members;
  • Subject to further provisions of the Hospersa Constitution, to render legal assistance to members in matters relating to their employment and to institute legal proceedings for and on behalf of the union and/or its members;
  • To affiliate with, confer or enter into co-operative arrangements with any other trade union, trade union federation or labour organisation, with the objective of securing joint action on any matter; To enter into collective bargaining forums to negotiate and enter into collective agreements with employers and employer associations;
  • To encourage the settlement of disputes through conciliatory methods;
  • To raise and acquire funds by means of subscriptions, levies, donations, loans or by any other lawful manner, which the National Executive Committee may deem fit;
  • To buy, take on lease, hire or otherwise acquire or sell, pledge or mortgage any movable or immovable property;
  • To deal with such other lawful matters as deemed to be in the interests of the union;
  • To protect the job security of members, to advance their employment prospects, and to serve their individual and collective interests;
  • To recruit and unite workers to improve their economic and social welfare;
  • To strive for proper and accessible training to develop the skills of all worker leaders and staff;
  • To establish relationships with other trade unions, trade union federations, labour organisations and service providers for the benefit of union members;
  • To build bilateral relations with trade unions internationally;
  • To develop policies that promote good governance;
  • To develop human resources policies that will enhance the development and motivation of staff according to legislation;
  • To promote HIV/Aids awareness, and wellness in general, gender equality, job creation/security and a corruption-free society;
  • To promote communication channels and transparency between worker leaders and staff; and
  • To strengthen the labour movement by organising and developing young workers.