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The union has held a national day of prayer in memory of frontline workers who died after contracting the virus.
FILE: A professional healthcare worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) monitors a patient in a shop dedicated to treating potential COVID-19 coronavirus patients at Tshwane District Hospital in Pretoria on July 10, 2020 Image: AFP
JOHANNESBURG – The National Union of Education, Health and Allied Workers (Nehawu) has accused private and government employers of forcing workers to go to work before they are exonerated from COVID-19.
The union has held a national day of prayer in memory of frontline workers who died after contracting the virus.
This was in the run-up to the union’s national day of action on Thursday.
The union says they want better evaluation of healthcare workers, access to personal protective equipment and for the government to comply with the public sector agreement.
Since the start of the pandemic, 240 healthcare workers have died from complications related to the coronavirus.
The day was marked by prayer and attendees pleading with God to save the lives of all front-line workers.
The Rev. Chris Mathebula of Hope Restoration Ministries Church began the prayer session.
“We want to honor you for these lives, these people, the frontline workers.”
Nehawu Secretary General Zola Saphetha took the podium.
“From our internal records, the deaths that Nehawu has counted are 983, we are verifying who actually died as a result of COVID.”
The union wants all workers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to undergo a full medical evaluation before they are allowed to return to work.
#Nehawu The party is celebrating a national day of prayer for all frontline workers who died from COVID19. This is the main event in the Chris Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, but there is a similar event in the hospitals of the other 8 provinces, KM pic.twitter.com/M1XASKz026
– EWN reporter (@ewnreporter) September 1, 2020
Meanwhile, the union has threatened to withdraw its vote for the African National Congress (ANC) in next year’s elections, if the government does not comply with its demands.
Saphetha said: “We have not yet met in a Cosatu meeting where we are going to discuss who to vote for next year. We will make our point. We cannot put in a government that refuses to listen to us. “
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