Fed-up Gauteng doctors have warned they will no longer work any overtime at all if they are not paid for it, after the provincial Health Department cut its budget for fixed overtime recently – and a number of staff were paid late this month.
Some have not yet been paid for last month’s overtime, as previously reported in MedicalBrief.
In a letter dated 7 May, the anaesthesia department at the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa, outside Pretoria, informed Dr Godfrey Mbara, the hospital CEO, that no anaesthesia services would be available from the following evening.
“The … decision not to do further overtime work was brought about by the announcement of the delay in the processing of payments,” read the letter, signed by Professor Hyla Kluyts, the HoD.
On the same day, the Department for Medical Family Care in Ekurhuleni notified managers that all overtime services were being suspended until outstanding payments had been received.
The letter, signed by registrars, medical officers and community service doctors, said the situation had become unsustainable and violated fundamental labour rights.
The staff gave notice that from 9 May, they would not work overtime until they were paid.
Meanwhile, reports News24, although a few medical staff were paid for overtime work this week, some payments are still outstanding.
Those who wanted to stop working were allegedly threatened with dismissal, so most were at their posts this week – whether they were paid or not.
“They are all very afraid now,” a source said.
SA Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) chairperson Dr Phuti Ratshabedi said the department’s non-payment for overtime indicates it does not respect the livelihood of doctors, or the doctors themselves.
News24 article – Gauteng doctors threaten to quit working overtime (Restricted access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Overtime non-payment for doctors sparks outrage in Gauteng
Medical union threatens legal action and protests over overtime cuts