Bhisho, unions agree on EMS pay

While union leaders said they would take the Eastern Cape department of health’s offer to end the emergency medical services strike to workers on Thursday, the state said the strike was over, and backpay woudl begin in December.

Health bosses met behind closed doors in Bhisho on Wednesday with Nehawu, Hospersa PSA union leaders.

Afterwards provincial health spokesperson Lwandile Sicwetsha said they had agreed that workers would be back at work on Wednesday night.

“Workers will report for duty tonight [Wednesday] and we will monitor the situation. Backpay from 2012 will be paid as from effect on December 1.

“Overtime claims for the period 2012-2014 will be paid between December 2018 and January 2019. The outstanding payment of claims in 2018 between July and October, will be paid during November,” Sicwetsha said.

He could not say how much had been set aside to backpay workers for the overtime.

However, the workers are demanding payment for overtime hours dating back to 2003, which Sicwetsha is on record as saying was under dispute.

“The overtime claims for 2003 to 2011 have been referred to an arbitration process to make a ruling,” he said.

The workers downed tools on Monday, demanding the overtime money. This compelled Bhisho to rope in private ambulances and only respond to critical situations.

It is not yet clear how much was spent on private ambulances or whether there were any fatalities because ambulances did not reach people.

Nehawu shop steward Luyanda Zide said they would take the offer to their members on Thursday. “Workers will be backpaid for three years. In December they will receive backpay for 2012 and 2013 and in January, backpay for 2014.

“The department has also to pay overtime for July to October in addition to December pay.”

PSA and Hospersa could not be contacted.

Government and unions are expected to sign the agreement in Bhisho on Thursday.