News / Health
Zimbabwe nurses threaten industrial action
30 Jun 2011 at 15:20hrs | Views
The government has been given a two weeks ultimatum to address the Zimbabwe Nurses Association Harare Province's grievances or risk crippling industrial action.
The nurses accuse government of backtracking on its promises, saying their salaries have been eroded by a general increase in prices of basic commodities that have seen the poverty datum line for a family of six being pegged at around $502.
Speaking to reporters soon after a heated meeting attended by its members, Zimbabwe Nurses Association Harare Provincial Chairman, Mr. Mugove Chipfurutse said his organisation has decided to down tools if nothing materialises within the two week window period.
Turning to the issue of locums which is money paid for overtime duties, Mr. Chipfurutse said it is disheartening to note that government is owing nurses allowances backdated to December last year, a situation that he said has gone too far.
The ultimatum by nurses follows a similar one by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.
The disgruntlement within the civil service has been a result of the refusal by Finance Minister, Tendai Biti to increase their salaries in direct defiance to the directive by the GPA principals.
The nurses accuse government of backtracking on its promises, saying their salaries have been eroded by a general increase in prices of basic commodities that have seen the poverty datum line for a family of six being pegged at around $502.
Speaking to reporters soon after a heated meeting attended by its members, Zimbabwe Nurses Association Harare Provincial Chairman, Mr. Mugove Chipfurutse said his organisation has decided to down tools if nothing materialises within the two week window period.
Turning to the issue of locums which is money paid for overtime duties, Mr. Chipfurutse said it is disheartening to note that government is owing nurses allowances backdated to December last year, a situation that he said has gone too far.
The ultimatum by nurses follows a similar one by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.
The disgruntlement within the civil service has been a result of the refusal by Finance Minister, Tendai Biti to increase their salaries in direct defiance to the directive by the GPA principals.
Source - Byo24News
