Give negotiations a chance - Minister urges striking Doctors

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has expressed concerns at the decision by the striking doctors to continue with work stoppages in defiance of a court order, their own representative body as well as Cosatu.

In a statement today (Tue) the Minister said the doctors’ action was in spite of their own Medical Association of South Africa and COSATU calling on them to go back to the bargaining process and give negotiations a chance for an amicable settlement.

“While I understand and accept that doctors are having genuine grievances, industrial action in terms of our law, however, can only take place after all due processes have been followed.

“In this case the parties are still busy with negotiations and I therefore urge the doctors to raise their issues at the bargaining chamber and suspend their strike as failure to do so might jeopardize their plight as doctors, and they may also weaken their own genuine cause.

Enquiries:          Zingisile Mapazi

                        0788037879