Please support state doctors

Riaan

Hey guys, this has absolutely nothing to do with guitars, hope I'm not disobeying any forum rules with this one - no political discussion is intended.

Please lend your support to the state employed doctors of this country who, two years after being promised salary adjustments, still have not received it. The story is this: In an attempt to recruit and retain staff to state hospitals - where at the moment, 20% of doctors care for 80% of the population - an Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) was introduced. It was implemented in phases, starting with the nurses, who in some cases got up to 80% raises. The doctors was supposed to get their OSD's on 1 July 2008. A personnel consultancy firm conducted a study which showed that state doctors earn between 40-100% less than state employed equivalent professions (legal, actuaries and pilots) and recommended a 50% increase.

Well, up to now the doctor's OSD is still not implemented, as the Dept. of Health overspent when implementing the nurses OSD. Following intense negotiations with unions and an abortive strike by a small group of doctors, government's latest offer is a DECREASE for some grades of junior doctors, and at maximum an 8% increase, to be implemented over two years and "subject to the availability of funding"...

So doctors started with picketing today - if you see them over lunchhour you now know what it's all about. For more info, see the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=69335825515

So it would help a lot if you could help to spread the word - at gigs, wherever you can. It is hoped that a good deal of publicity and public outcry will bring government to their senses and help avert a general strike - which would have disastrous consequences for everyone.

FatBoy

Have joined the group, will see what I can do about spreading the word, do I get an axe as well if you get more GAS money?

Riaan

Thanks Fritz!

do I get an axe as well if you get more GAS money?

?...sure we can work something out!

Riaan-Combrink

Riaan wrote So it would help a lot if you could help to spread the word - at gigs, wherever you can. It is hoped that a good deal of publicity and public outcry will bring government to their senses and help avert a general strike - which would have disastrous consequences for everyone.

Hey, Riaan. With you 100%. Also in a professional capacity in the public service, and waited a year for OSD to be implemented. Eventually came with backpay to date of decision to grant it; i.e. 1 July 2007 iro legal professionals. So there may be some light in the tunnel when it eventually comes. Cold comfort for now, though.

Not to be a downer, but remember that doctors are an essential service and under SA law are prohibited from striking. Any strike will be unprotected, and in the long run doctors will lose big time if they embark on an unprotected/illegal strike. Hope it doesn't come to that. Pressure must be aimed at preventing that - but remember that employer is bargaining with the knowledge that doctors may not strike. So that's an unfair bargaining position.

Riaan

Hi Riaan

Yes, we're in a rather shitty position, being essential services. Problem is, the young doctors - full of fire and impatient as they are - are fed up and threatens to strike, illegal or not. And in the process they will harm themselves and the patients. I'm hoping that a strike will be avoided (in the end the patients will suffer as a result, preventable deaths will and already have occurred) by getting as much public support and publicity - and public pressure - as we can. To this end, a certain Billy Ruben is active all over the internet to get attention... (bilirubin is the stuff that gives sh..t it's colour... ?)

Eventually came with backpay to date of decision to grant it; i.e. 1 July 2007 iro legal professionals

Have you seen our offer from government? After initial reassurances that our OSD will be backdated to 1 July 2008, in the offer tabled last week it was said that backpay is not possible due to a lack of funds, and each will receive an unspecified "gratuity". Also that the increase is 0.27 (no typo, that's zero point two percent) to eight percent increase, implemented over two years, provided that "funds are available". That's BS as far as I'm concerned, I could earn up to eight times my current salary in private practice. I'm working in the public sector because I know that's where I'm needed, and at the risk of sounding arrogant, I'm damn good at my job and will do well anywhere in the world. I'm lucky in the sense that I'm in a very senior position (principal specialist), though still underpaid by at least 40%. That sucks, as I carry a lot of responsibility as head of a regional service.

but remember that employer is bargaining with the knowledge that doctors may not strike

Exactly. But they are underestimating the nerve/guts of the junior doctors, who form the backbone of the workforce. They don't have major financial committments yet, actually have little to lose and will recklessly strike the way I see things developing.

Let's hope common sense prevails, otherwise people will die. Simple as that.

FatBoy

Hectic dude, With you all the way!

Riaan-Combrink

Riaan wrote To this end, a certain Billy Ruben is active all over the internet to get attention... (bilirubin is the stuff that gives sh..t it's colour... ?)
LOL! Go, Billy ?

Riaan wrote Have you seen our offer from government? After initial reassurances that our OSD will be backdated to 1 July 2008, in the offer tabled last week it was said that backpay is not possible due to a lack of funds, and each will receive an unspecified "gratuity". Also that the increase is 0.27 (no typo, that's zero point two percent) to eight percent increase, implemented over two years, provided that "funds are available".

That is just disgusting. Simple as that. I can now better understand the position. No way you guys can settle for that.

Riaan wrote I could earn up to eight times my current salary in private practice. I'm working in the public sector because I know that's where I'm needed, and at the risk of sounding arrogant, I'm damn good at my job and will do well anywhere in the world.

I'm with you. I've had to explain to people hundreds of times why I'm not in private practice making oodles of GAS money! I specialize in something called International Humanitarian Law - go figure! That's why I have so few guitars, but I trust my days' work makes a difference!

A luta continua. Hope the new Health Minister sees this as a gap to do something his predecessor couldn't. New broom and all that ...

Riaan

I've had to explain to people hundreds of times why I'm not in private practice making oodles of GAS money!

Oh man, do I know that all too well also! That's a frequent question, sometimes also asked by the young docs who work with me! One of them actually asked me whether I'm a dedicated humanitarian or simply crazy? To which I replied "both"... ?

But thanks for the support guys!

FatBoy

Money can't buy you no Mojo dude, go with your heart and do good where you can, but fight for what you deserve.

Bob-Dubery

Riaan wrote Hi Riaan

Yes, we're in a rather shitty position, being essential services. Problem is, the young doctors - full of fire and impatient as they are - are fed up and threatens to strike, illegal or not. And in the process they will harm themselves and the patients. I'm hoping that a strike will be avoided (in the end the patients will suffer as a result, preventable deaths will and already have occurred) by getting as much public support and publicity - and public pressure - as we can.

Which is why messages like this are important. Too often strikes, from a public point of view, just materialise out of nowhere and result in chaos and wanton destruction. Thus there is little public sympathy. I often wonder why the aggrieved don't do better PR. That wouldn't in itself get the matter settled, but it would remove one potent weapon that, in this case, the health ministry have.

Can't you guys get on drive-time radio?