Hospital locks out nurses

THE Namibia Nurses Union (Nanu) yesterday described a threat of “grave consequences” made by Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi to nurses as a “daydream” as the relationship between the two parties worsened.

The management of the Windhoek Central Hospital (WCH) locked the nurses out of the chapel, where they were to hold their lunchtime media briefing yesterday, prompting the Nanu leadership to call them “unprofessional”. Nanu said the doors to the hall were locked despite them notifying the management of the meeting – the second time it has happened.Last year nurses had to use a back door to enter the hall for a similar meeting.The Ministry said earlier that the first meeting was illegal.The union’s Secretary General, Abner Shopati, said it was clear indication that the Ministry of Health’s management had no respect for its employees and was not interested in solving the dispute amicably.Around 300 nurses met in front of the Central Hospital yesterday as the Nanu leadership briefed them on the latest developments.The angry nurses agreed that the lockout was a clear signal that the Ministry was not interested in solving the dispute.When he briefed them, Shopati said Health Minister Kamwi’s veiled threat of grave consequences at his meeting with nurses at Engela on Tuesday was a “daydream”.”If there would be any, he will be the first and his team will also pay such a price.Such a statement is tantamount to threat, intimidation and suppression and is a violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, which he is supposed to uphold,” Shopati said.Last month the nurses gave the Government a month to respond to their demand for recognition of Nanu as bargaining agent.If they do not get a favourable response, the nurses will approach the Labour Court.Only if these efforts fail would nurses vote on a strike.Shopati said Nanu was led by credible leaders with a high sense of responsibility.”We have followed law and procedures and we will continue to do so until our mission is accomplished,” he told the nurses.Shopati said Kamwi’s recent countrywide tour, on which he was joined by some top officials in the Ministry, was a waste of Government resources and a campaign for the opposition Namibia Public Workers’ Union.He claimed that the Ministry of Health made transport available for staff members to attend Napwu meetings.It all started with a dispute over the calculation of nurses’ pay for work done on Sundays and public holidays.The Ministry of Health claims that nurses are still receiving overtime payment, but for only part of their shifts on Sundays and public holidays.The change was implemented on April 1 2006.Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula said nurses had been overpaid for years because of varying interpretations of the Labour Act.He blamed his management team for not properly explaining the changes to the nurses.Nanu said the doors to the hall were locked despite them notifying the management of the meeting – the second time it has happened.Last year nurses had to use a back door to enter the hall for a similar meeting.The Ministry said earlier that the first meeting was illegal.The union’s Secretary General, Abner Shopati, said it was clear indication that the Ministry of Health’s management had no respect for its employees and was not interested in solving the dispute amicably.Around 300 nurses met in front of the Central Hospital yesterday as the Nanu leadership briefed them on the latest developments.The angry nurses agreed that the lockout was a clear signal that the Ministry was not interested in solving the dispute.When he briefed them, Shopati said Health Minister Kamwi’s veiled threat of grave consequences at his meeting with nurses at Engela on Tuesday was a “daydream”. “If there would be any, he will be the first and his team will also pay such a price.Such a statement is tantamount to threat, intimidation and suppression and is a violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, which he is supposed to uphold,” Shopati said.Last month the nurses gave the Government a month to respond to their demand for recognition of Nanu as bargaining agent.If they do not get a favourable response, the nurses will approach the Labour Court.Only if these efforts fail would nurses vote on a strike.Shopati said Nanu was led by credible leaders with a high sense of responsibility.”We have followed law and procedures and we will continue to do so until our mission is accomplished,” he told the nurses.Shopati said Kamwi’s recent countrywide tour, on which he was joined by some top officials in the Ministry, was a waste of Government resources and a campaign for the opposition Namibia Public Workers’ Union.He claimed that the Ministry of Health made transport available for staff members to attend Napwu meetings.It all started with a dispute over the calculation of nurses’ pay for work done on Sundays and public holidays.The Ministry of Health claims that nurses are still receiving overtime payment, but for only part of their shifts on Sundays and public holidays.The change was implemented on April 1 2006.Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula said nurses had been overpaid for years because of varying interpretations of the Labour Act.He blamed his management team for not properly explaining the changes to the nurses.