E Cape nurses tell govt to pay up or face strike

Tshabalala-Msimang announced last year that nurses would get a pay increase

Nurses at Frere Hospital in the Eastern Cape are threatening to stage their biggest strike ever, which could cripple the provincial Department of Health. This comes after the department failed to adjust their salaries following an announcement by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang last year that they would get a rise.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union’s acting provincial secretary, Bernard Matshaya, says they are engaging the department on the issue, and will call for a provincial strike if no solution is found.

Some nurses claim that the department owes them more than R30 000 in back pay.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Health Department has denied allegations that it has run out of budget to increase the salaries of nurses.

Department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo says the department is busy implementing the special Occupation Specific Dispensation, and that 12 000 nurses are set to benefit.

He has appealed to nurses not to panic.