Rustenburg – The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) supports striking Community Health Workers in the North West province, the federation said on Tuesday.
“These workers demand that they be permanently employed and also be paid decent salaries instead of the current stipend of a measly R2 000 that they are currently getting,” Cosatu national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said.
“The federation supports these workers and is calling on all other workers in the province to support this strike action and offer solidarity to the striking workers. These workers are treated like glorified slaves despite the critical service that they provide to the communities.”
He said Community Health Workers provide active information and also help to collect information on the needs and problems that exist in communities.
“They are the facilitators that help with the implementation and coordination of intergovernmental programmes like the fight against HIV/AIDS and other programmes.
“If we are to achieve the goal of reengineering of our healthcare into primary healthcare, and succeed in delivering much needed services to the vulnerable people in our communities, we need to treat the Community Health Workers much better. These are the people, who are on the frontline of service delivery because they live in the communities that they serve and promote the notion of partnership between themselves and local structures of government at community level.”
More than 1 000 Community Health Workers downed tools a week ago, which their union, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), said came after a lengthy talks with the department of health in the province.
The North West health department said it remained open to a dialogue with the union leaders to resolve the matter, and urged Community Health Workers to go back to work while negotiations continue.
African News Agency
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