Union slams ministry for intimidating workers

PATRICIA MAGANU-EDWIN
Staff Writer | Monday April 18, 2011 00:00

 

BLLAHWU secretary general, Ketlhalefile Motshegwe told The Monitor that they received information that the meetings were going on in many parts of the country and the officials involved in summoning the workers said they were acting on instructions from Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Kolaatamo Malefho. He said he went to Masunga to tell the officials that they were out of line by holding such meetings.

'They are out of line and I had come to tell them that that could amount intimidation. The PS is also out of line because this is not the time for contingency plans. The PS does not even sit in the bargaining meetings,' said Motshegwe.

He said that it should be understood that the issue of the strike is between the union and the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM), the employer.

'This is not an illegal strike. It is legal as we reached a deadlock with the government on the negotiations and we have the certificate so the employees are right to strike and it is wrong to make them feel otherwise,' said the union boss.

He added that it is wrong for the PS to make statements that influence health workers. 'They are saying that sick people will not be attended to and that is not what we want. We love this country and the people. But we are dealing with a government that does not care about the welfare of people  it has employed,' said Motshegwe.

Union leaders planning the strike have decided that 30 percent of the health workers will remain at every facility.'We have exhausted all the channels and we now move to strike. We were with the employer yesterday (Thursday) and nothing has come out of it, so we have been referred for mediation,' Motshegwe said.

He accused some heads of department of telling some workers that they are essential staff and they should not strike. He said other heads have been threatening workers that they might be putting their jobs on the line if they strike.

He said this is intimidation and union leaders were going around telling employees that it is in their right to strike and their jobs are not on the line. 'The strike is legal and no legal action will be taken against them,' said Motshegwe.