The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union is at loggerheads with the Northern Cape Department of Health after it applied for an interim interdict to prevent them from embarking on strike action.
THE YOUNG Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU) is at loggerheads with the Northern Cape Department of Health after it applied for an interim interdict to prevent them from embarking on strike action.
YNITU general secretary Lerato Mthunzi said the one-day strike that took place on August 23 was an attempt to coerce the Department of Health to take urgent steps to prevent Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College (HSNC) from being de-registered due to health and safety non-compliance.
“The YNITU had to defend itself against a stupid and senseless interdict that was lodged by the Northern Cape Department of Health. The nursing college is the only one of its kind in the Province and has been serving the community since 1889. The college does not have a library, students learn out of containers and temporary structures. The toilets are in a very poor condition and in most cases are not working properly. The infrastructure for the school is almost non-existent. At the same time, students do not have proper learning material and they do not have enough teachers. The court dismissed the application on Friday as the court was not convinced that YNITU posed any threat to the department. The application was dismissed with costs,” said Mthunzi.
She added that YNITU condemned the “frivolous waste of taxpayers’ money” on the court application.
“We urge the department to focus on repairing the college so that it is able to fulfil its mandate of delivering excellent training for health workers in the Province.”
Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lulu Mxekezo welcomed the court order that the parties should settle out of court on the matter regarding the student nurses and the college.
“However, it is with dismay that we note the statement of the little-known union, Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union, that wants to illegally operate in our Province. Their comments and stance proves why we had to go to court for the interim interdict,” said Mxekezo.
She explained that the department was forced to apply for an interim interdict after YNITU members embarked on strike action on August 23.
“Despite the interim interdict, the Northern Cape Department of Health continued to engage with the local college representatives regarding their issues. This engagement was led by the MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, in an effort to seek the urgent resolution of the matters.”
Mxekezo stated that the court had not dismissed the matter but had encouraged the parties involved to engage with each other and find “middle ground”.
“The department has made efforts to resolve the matter but will not include the YNITU in its interactions as it does not meet the requirements specified by the Public Health and Social Development Bargaining Council (PHSDBC) to operate in the Province. The department will only discuss with parties that meet the PHSDBC criteria concerning issues affecting student nurses,” she added.
“It is disingenuous for YNITU to claim a victory where the court never ruled to that effect.”
Mxekezo indicated that the department was not aware of any attempts to de-register the Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College (HSNC).
“The only institution that can do this is the South African Nursing Council (SANC). The SANC has visited the nursing college earlier this year and has not communicated any intention to de-register HSNC.”
She added that the department had noted media reports dated September 30 regarding the YNITU being de-registered as a trade union as per the notice by the registrar of labour relations.
“The department took steps to apply for an interim interdict to protect the HSNC and the department. We will not hesitate to take any legal or any alternative action in future against any unruly and chaotic behaviour aimed at disrupting service delivery in general or academic activities and processes of our student nurses.”
