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The Eastern Cape Department said employees in its Forensic Pathology Services have embarked on a wildcat strike over unpaid overtime, a move that has affected services.
Department spokesperson, Yonela Dekeda, said employees from Buffalo City Metro, Amathole District Municipality, and OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo District Municipalities downed tools demanding immediate payment.
She said the overtime payment is above 30% of their salaries, adding that the matter was receiving the urgency that it deserves.
Dekeda said Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth was concerned by the strike.
“A meeting between management and labour is discussing these matters. We hope that we will find one another other and ensure we continue serving the people of the Eastern Cape with efficiency. We are appealing to communities to please bear with us until this has been resolved.”
Dekeda said the Provincial Health Department will take appropriate disciplinary action against those taking part in the strike.
She said on Monday night the Department “embarked on emergency procurement” to recover three bodies while facility managers have also been instructed to pick up bodies until services have been restored.
