Caxton News Service reports that the strike by mortuary employees that began on 8 June in Johannesburg, subsequently spreading into various parts of Gauteng, has continued into its second week.
There is now a backlog of more than 200 bodies. About 180 forensic assistants across 10 state mortuaries downed tools over an apparent pay grievance and resorted to the ‘working-to-rule’ action, which requires that an employee executes duties only for which they are explicitly mandated. The DA’s Jack Bloom, however, labelled the strike action illegal and went on to say that the claim that it was not a strike but a ‘working-to-rule’ process was false. He believes that an urgent court order should be brought against the illegal strikers “who disrespect the dead and are causing incredible anguish to relatives waiting more than 10 days, in some instances, to bury loved ones.” But Bloom did add that the workers had legitimate pay grievances. The worst-affected mortuaries are Hillbrow, Germiston, Diepkloof and Germiston. The SA Military Health Services has been roped in to assist at the worst-hit facilities.
- Read this report in full at The Citizen
- Read too, Gauteng mortuary staff claim they are being underpaid, at BusinessLive
- And also, Forensic pathologists strike forces families to halt burials, at SABC News
- As well as, Military doctors deployed to clear mortuary backlog as strike continues, at EWN
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page