A short picket at the Provincial Hospital in Gqeberha was meant to set the stage for a national march next week by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu).
The protest scheduled for November 22 is in response to the government’s 3% wage increase offer to public servants.
The dispute over salaries follows labour minister Thulas Nxesi announcing he would increase salaries 3% while the unions demanded 6.5%.
Wage negotiations have been taking place at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council since August.
Despite resistance from workers, finance minister Enoch Godongwana reaffirmed in his medium-term budget speech on October 26 that the government’s offer of a 3% wage increase was fair and would be implemented unilaterally.
However, unions have rejected the offer and a one-day strike led by the Public Servants’ Association on Thursday last week set the tone for another that is believed to be on the cards.
On Tuesday morning, patients at Provincial’s optometry clinic waited in a long queue while placard-waving staff sang and danced.
Nehawu regional secretary Samkelo Msila said in a statement: “Workers at PE Provincial have started to demonstrate their anger and frustration.
“It will be up to the employer to avoid what may come, which can be a total shutdown of the public service.
“As unions, we do not wish to see this but workers are indeed not happy.”
He said the government’s actions undermined bargaining processes.
Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA provincial secretary Veli Sinqana said the pickets were peaceful demonstrations and took place at certain intervals — teatime or lunchtime — and did not interfere with hospital work.
Sinqana said the action was a build-up to next week’s march, and in the Eastern Cape, to the provincial treasury in Bhisho.
Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda said the picketing did not interrupt services and outpatient services continued as normal.
She said only a few officials embarked on the 30-minute picket and hospital management was not informed about the picket beforehand.
“Management have put measures in place [in case] any disruptions to patient care and services are experienced,” Dekeda said.
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