Lab strike could be averted if Gauteng paid R696 million in arrears
19 July 2017
It is bad news that about 5000 workers at the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) have now voted to go on strike next week, but this can be averted if provincial health departments paid their debts to the NHLS.
Unions are demanding increases between 7.3% and 13%, but the NHLS can only offer 3%, which is clearly too low as it is well below the inflation rate.
Reasonable wage demands could be met if the Gauteng Health Department pays the R696 million that it owes the NHLS.
Gauteng Finance MEC Barbara Creecy has promised that the Department's huge arrears to many suppliers will be paid - if she prioritizes payment to the NHLS much anguish will be saved in avoiding a devastating strike.