Ambulance strike called off

Ambulance crews were expected to return to work on Wednesday night as the Eastern Cape department of health said it had reached an agreement with the unions representing emergency medical services workers.

Union representatives, however, said they first had to take the deal to the workers on Thursday, before the strike would officially end.

Workers received a message from the unions on Wednesday afternoon to ask them to report for duty and were assured that they would receive compensation for 232 excess hours worked per year and that this – as well as overtime – would be paid in November, December and January.

Excess hours are compensation for hours worked over the standard 40 hours worked per week.

Health spokesperson Lwandile Sicwetsha said the department would pay overtime claims for 2012 to 2014 between December and January.

The department has also undertaken to ensure arbitration for all overtime claims between 2003 and 2011.

Outstanding overtime and excess hour payments for the months of July, August, September and October will be made in November.

Eastern Cape health MEC Helen Sauls-August welcomed the end of the strike.

“We are pleased that the management and unions have reached an agreement on this,” she said.

“We want all emergency workers to put patients first and not take actions that put their lives at risk.”

Sicwetsha said the department would sign a new agreement that confirms the resolutions in Bhisho.