Jhb EMS workers end strike

2009-07-03 22:45

Johannesburg - After a month-long strike, Johannesburg emergency workers will return to work as early as Saturday.

"All services (medical, fire, search and rescue, and disaster management) will be fully restored and EMS will fully be functional by tomorrow [Saturday] morning. All members, including paramedics and fire-fighters, will be on duty," said EMS spokesperson Percy Morokane in a statement.

The Gauteng department of health and the SA Municipal Workers Union both confirmed that an agreement had been reached between the union and employers.

"Certain principles have been agreed upon. Based on these principles, members are prepared to resume their duties," said Samwu spokesperson Dumisani Langa.

Revisiting the wage progression

"The city and Samwu have agreed to call it off," said department of health spokesperson Mandla Sidu.
Morokane and Sidu said the agreement was primarily over the issue of salaries.

"They have agreed that the city will revisit the wage progression. The finer details will emerge [later]," said Sidu.

However, Langa declined to offer details of what was agreed upon between EMS and Samwu, saying that the agreement still had to be authorised by the Mayoral Committee.

"It is subject to ratification by the Mayoral Committee, I can't divulge [details," said Langa.

The strike began a month ago when Samwu members accused EMS of not adhering to an agreed-upon wage settlement from as far back as November. EMS fought back and said that no wage negotiations had taken place and that any such negotiations ought to be made in a Bargaining Council.

Industrial action, not strike

Samwu had been careful to call their protests an industrial action and not a strike. This followed a Labour Court interdict ordering them not to strike.

Johannesburg EMS accused the strikers of contempt of court as well as more serious crimes such as arson, after the Brixton Fire station was set alight.

"Any member who is found to have committed any criminal offence, or is found guilty of any misconduct in terms of the applicable EMS Code of Conduct, will be punished accordingly.

"There will be no concessions in that regard. As this was considered and illegal industrial action, and as such unprotected," said Morokane.
 

- SAPA