EMS workers give ultimatum: answers or down tools
Emergency Services Workers may down tools pending a resolution to be taken at the Bargaining Council for the Public Service on 21 February.
POLOKWANE – Risimati Chabalala, Spokesperson for the National Public Service Workers’ Union (NPSWU) in Limpopo said the union has indicated to the Commissioner at the Council that the union also has an interest in the matter pertaining to overtime that was brought before the Council by Hospersa.
NPSWU handed over a memorandum with grievances to the Premier’s office in June 2017 pertaining to the back-payment of monthly overtime in excess of 160 hours from 2005 to date to EMS personnel.
The matter was also discussed with the Department of Health, among other demands pertaining to uniforms, filling of vacant positions, equipment, compliance to occupational health and safety measures, upgrading of EMS infrastructure, the re-opening of the EMS College that was closed around three years ago because the curriculum was not up to the required standards and its accreditation was withdrawn, and other demands.
“The department still employs a principal at the college at a huge salary every month, who is doing nothing.”
Last year, NPSWU took on the MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, after she allegedly made derogatory remarks on a radio station, about emergency personnel in the province, linking them to hydrosephalic patients.
“How must these patients and their families feel?” Chabalala asked.
A memorandum for the removal of the MEC was then handed over to the Office of the Premier on 16 November by NPSWU in Limpopo, demanding Ramathuba’s removal as MEC.
The Premier referred the matter back to the MEC to meet with the union. The meeting took place at the end of November.
Ramathuba apparently said on the radio station that the emergency workers only underwent three months’ training and were not sufficiently trained to assist victims of accidents and were not qualified to save lives.
Chabalala maintained that she demeaned the EMS workers and that the patients would have no respect and confidence in them.
He said Ramathuba had damaged the image of the EMS staff in the eyes of the public.
“Ramathuba has undermined the union, a professional body that also certified her as a medical doctor and registered the EMS workers. She has no respect for the patients who are also suffering from hydrocephalus conditions, as well as their families,” Chabalala said.
Chabalala said the commissioner will hear the case on the overtime on 21 February, and will give his verdict 14 days later.
The union will reassess what workers want and may then decide upon a total shutdown, depending on feedback received from the MEC.
Spokesperson for the MEC of Health, Thabiso Teffo said he couldn’t fathom why the issues pertaining to the MEC’s remarks were brought up again, as it had been resolved at the meeting last year.
He said the union was lacking in membership numbers to be representative and to make demands, but the department was working on issues such as the re-opening of the EMS College.
