The Zimbabwe Nurses Association has called on its members to go strike, less than a month after ending another strike. The nurses argue that the government negotiated in bad faith and did not stick to its end of the bargain. The strike follows a month-long strike by doctors which crippled the health system.
A memo addressed to the Minister of Health and Child Care and senior government officials as well as the bosses of the country’s government hospitals reads,
Attention
• Minister of Health and Child Care
• Health Services Board Chairman
• Permanent Secretary -MOHCCCc
1 CEOs -Mpito Central Hospital. United Bulawayo Hospital Inguisheni Central Hospital, Parirenyalwa Group of Hospitals, Harare Central Hospital, RDCs
2 Provincial Medical Directors-Matabeleland North and South, Mashonaland East, Central and West Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands, Mission Hospitals
Reference: Collective Job Action by Nurses
Nurses play a pivotal role in the health delivery system of Zimbabwe They provide services to the community 24/7 with minimum resources and below market packages. Regardless of this, the government has seen it fit to ignore these combatants by not attending to issues which enhance their functionality and motivation as highlighted below:
I. Insufficient medical, Surgical human resources and equipment at health facilities.
II. Discrepancies in allocation of allowances should be rationalized immediately
III. Non-implementation of outstanding issues like advancement, re-grading, promotion procedures since 2010 for Nurses.
IV. Failure to engage progressively, on the PaPer Presented to the employer on 4/4/18 after government offer of 31/3/18.
V. A collective bargaining agreement was signed for on 31/3/18 paving way for the payment of the following health specific allowances: Standby allowance & night duly allowance (non-claimable), and post basic allowance among the least but these have not been paid as per standing agreement. Regardless of the fact that the Allowances fell short of the Nurses Expectations. the same Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) were paid for other cadres but most regarding to (sic) nurses were not honoured without any official explanation to what caused the discrepancy. This is a clear breach of contract.
VI. Nurses will only return to work if the outstanding payments reflect in their accounts
The above and other issues have left nurses with no option but to resort to Industrial action on 16/04/2018