Health workers victimised after strike: union

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the Western Cape says health workers are being victimised after the recent public sector strike. Cosatu plans to go on strike next Thursday, in an attempt to force the provincial government to find a solution to their demands.

Tony Ehrenreich, the Cosatu secretary in the province, says dismissed health workers must be reinstated. He says they also want the needs of learners to be addressed.

Ehrenreich says: "Cosatu met with government today, to try and advance a solution to the potential strike… because of government's refusal to put in place a recovery plan for education and to deal with the victimisation of workers who were on strike. The government unfortunately sent beaurocrats to the meeting, who could not reach an agreement with us.”

Ehrenreich says if government persists with this attitude, the strike will be inevitable. The provincial government could not be reached for comment.