A group of striking workers defied a court order when they prevented non-striking workers and patients from entering King Edward Hospital in Durban on Monday morning.
The five striking workers — wearing National Education, Health, and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) T-shirts — prevented workers and patients from entering the hospital. They only allowed entry to people who wanted to collect antiretroviral drugs.
A striking woman at the hospital said she was not aware of the court order.
“We are still doing what we were doing last week,” she said.
Nurses camping outside the hospital said they were still waiting for union leaders to tell them whether to work.
The Labour Court ruling prohibits essential services workers from participating in the public servants’ strike.
The ruling also prevents protesters from intimidating and victimising non-striking workers.
The KwaZulu-Natal government has also obtained an interdict preventing striking workers from barricading public institutions.
Cosatu presses ahead with demonstrations
Meanwhile, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said its members would press ahead with demonstrations outside hospitals and other workplaces on Monday.
“We have to highlight our plight,” said Cosatu spokesperson Mugwena Maluleke.
“We have told our members there must be no obstruction of entrances and no intimidation. They are allowed to demonstrate outside the hospital, they will just have to keep their distance,” Maluleke told the South African Press Association.
Public-service unions, representing about 1,3-million workers, started a strike last Wednesday, demanding an 8,6% salary increase and R1 000 monthly housing allowance.
The government announced last week that it would implement its 7% salary increase and R700 housing allowance offer unilaterally within 21 days.
But Maluleke said the unions would not stop their action until the public service and administration department had been forced back to the negotiating table.
“We will strike until the government comes to its senses and goes back to the table and reopens negotiations.” – Sapa