1 July 2009
MORE health workers in Lusaka and the Copperbelt yesterday reported for work ending the three-week long strike after the Government promised to commit itself to meet their demands.
A check at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and other health centres in Lusaka revealed that nurses had resumed normal duties.
The nurses were demanding increased uniform, night duty and housing allowances.
UTH spokesperson, Pauline Mbangweta, said in an interview that all the nurses who were on strike had reported for work.
Ms Mbangweta said the wards which were closed because of the work stoppage had been opened, adding that normal admission of patients had started.
In Ndola, health workers who met at the Ndola Central Hospital (NCH) grounds as early as 07:30 hours resolved to return to work immediately.
Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) Ndola branch chairperson, Joy Beene, said in an interview that the workers resolved to return to work because the public and other sectors of society had urged them to do so.
He said the health workers had reported to their supervisors to obtain work schedules.
Mr Beene said the development had been communicated to NCH, Arthur Davison Children's Hospital and the District Health Management Team administrations.
And Mr Beene said the five nurses that were arrested on Monday had been released.
A check by the Times at the hospital found nurses and other health workers reporting to their various sections. Some nurses were dressed in uniform while others were not.
The health workers resumed work yesterday after Health Minister, Kapembwa Simbao promised at a meeting on Monday with the union leaders that he would address their grievances through a technical committee that had been formulated.
CSAWUZ general secretary, Darison Chaala, appealed to various managements and the Government to uphold the spirit of good industrial relations by not punishing members for the strike action.
Mr Chaala said the union remained committed to the workers' cause.
Meanwhile, the go-slow by the University of Zambia (UNZA) lecturers and other unionised staff has continued with few lecturers conducting lessons.
And the University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) has appealed to management, lecturers and the Government to sort out the impasse before the situation gets out of hand.
UNZASU information and publicity secretary, Bertha Kalongelwa, said it was important that the parties involved found a lasting solution because the problem would disturb the university calendar.
Ms Kalongelwa urged management, lecturers and the Government to come up with a mechanism that would ensure the bargaining of salaries for lecturers was done three years in advance to allow smooth running of the university.
The unions representing workers at UNZA have rejected the directive by the Government that grant-aided institutions should increase salaries to a maximum of five per cent.
The three unions are the University of Zambia Lectures and Researchers Union, the University of Zambia Professional Association and the University of Zambia and Allied Workers Union.
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