Johannesburg — NURSES at Sandton Medi- Clinic will down tools tonight following the failure of wage increase negotiations.

Although management was quick to say the clinic would operate as usual, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) warned yesterday that the strike would have a negative effect as it represented the majority of staff.

Denosa is demanding a 12,5% wage hike across the board, while the clinic is offering an average of 9% plus minor adjustments, which comes to about 11,71%. The union also wants a pay progression system and staff to be paid for the public holidays they work instead of getting a day off. The company argues that it cannot pay for public holidays because the cost is too high.

Liana Grobler, Denosa's industrial relations co-ordinator, said the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration had issued the union with a strike certificate.

"This effectively means that ... there will be no staff on duty at Sandton Medi-Clinic from 7pm. Nurses will continue to picket (tomorrow) morning," she said. "We call on all nurses at Sandton Medi-Clinic to join the industrial action in their numbers and show their dissatisfaction (with) the employer's arrogance and resistance."

Wimpie Aucamp, chief operating officer for Medi-Clinic Southern Africa, said nurses who joined the strike would face a lockout. Although it was not known how many nurses would join the strike, he said the clinic was "well prepared".

"Staff from nearby Morningside Medi-Clinic, Wits' Donald Gordon Medical Centre as well as from Vereeniging Medi- Clinic have already indicated that they will fill in for any staff shortages," Aucamp said.