19 March 2007
The Department of Health and Social Services in Mpumalanga has noted an
industrial action that took place on Monday, 19 March 2007, at the provincial
offices by social workers regarding the issue of re-grading of their posts.
Over the recent past, the department has met on numerous occasions with the
leadership of trade unions in particular Nehawu, where this issue was
thoroughly discussed. During these discussions, all parties have always
understood that the process was nationally driven by the Department of Social
Development. It has however emerged that the provinces have not applied the
guidelines consistently in the implementation, resulting in disparity amongst
the provinces.
To ensure that the process is correctly handled, the National Department of
Social Development requested the provinces to conduct audits to determine the
existing levels of social workers and to determine whether those already paid
were correctly paid.
After intense discussions with Nehawu, an agreement was reached that once
the national process was completed, which would have given concrete clarity on
the issue, a special Chamber was going to be called to consider a proposal made
to pay all social workers still owed money as a result of the re-grading
process. The department remains committed to this course.
Since then, the Department received a Memorandum from the National
Department of Social Development on 2 March 2007, which read in part:
"The afore-mentioned process has not yet been finalised, as the final
results of the audit must still be communicated to labour, as per the
agreement. It is against that backdrop that we strongly advise your office to
hold in abeyance any further implementation of the results of the re-grading of
social workers until such time that this dispute has been finalised. That will
also ensure that we do not undermine the processes we are engaged in with
labour to resolve the current dispute."
Informed by the above instruction, we would like to make a call to our
employees in particular Labour Leadership to respect this process to unfold
without any hindrance, and to advise their membership to continue with their
normal duties without any disturbance, as all of us await the process to be
completed accordingly. We have been made to understand that there is a
scheduled meeting on Friday, 23 March 2007, between the National Department of
Social Development and Labour to conclude on this matter.
Contact:
Dr ETC Moloko
Head of Department
Cell: 083 648 2446
Mpho Gabashane
Cell: 082 802 4937
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Services, Mpumalanga Provincial
Government
19 March 2007
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za)
