Nurses in Ndola have appealed to both Members of Parliament to forfeit their mid term gratuity so that the money is channeled towards meeting their plight.
ZANIS Ndola reports that the decision was arrived at this morning during a general meeting between striking workers and District Union Officials at Ndola Central Hospital Cafeteria.
And Civil Servant and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) Ndola District Chairperson Joy Beene told ZANIS Ndola in an interview that the workers had resolved not go back to work until they meet their National Union Leaders on Friday in Kitwe.
Mr. Beene said the general populace of members have opposed to the decision by their national leaders to visit district saying it would be an expensive undertaking.[quote]
He said the members have since decided to travel to Kitwe and see their national leaders for the last time as they had decided to pass a vote of no confidence on their leadership.
He explained the meeting in Kitwe will decide the way forward for the workers.
He refuted allegation that the strike was political saying it was politics of the ‘stomach’ that was agitating the nurses to strike.
“We are challenging MPs and government if they love these people who are dying let them forfeit the gratuity of K480million they are about to get to the Nurses so that they go back to work,” Beene said.
And speaking at the same function a representative of the teachers in Ndola said teachers had decided to continue with their strike until government gives them a block figure.
The representative said although teachers were reporting for work that they will be in class for only 6 minutes as it was a representation of 15% of the total 40minutes each class period is allocated.
The teachers further alleged that government had decided to turn down their request for a permit so that they could demonstrate peacefully on Friday.
She further said due to the turn down of the request the teachers had decided to meet at Kansenshi Cemetery because no one needed a permit to assemble at a cemetery.
ZANIS