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The Mercury reported on Monday that the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) has threatened strike action which could delay the release of bodies to bereaved families should its demands for mortuary workers not be addressed by the Department of Health.
Phakamani Ndunakazi, KZN provincial secretary, on Sunday said workers would embark on lunchtime pickets while the union met the department. Should the talks not go their way, a full-blown strike could be imminent. Workers’ grievances include allegedly broken air conditioning and equipment, and irregularities related to rosters, overtime pay and lack of danger pay. Provision of protective wear is also an issue. Post-mortems are meant to be conducted by doctors with the workers assisting, but Nehawu says workers are also having to dissect bodies. Health head of department Dr Sifiso Mtshali said the department was trying to improve working conditions at the 39 mortuaries in the province. On Friday he met mortuary managers “to look at gaps within the service.”
- Read this report by Nosipho Mngoma in full at The Mercury
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page