Malawi nurses issue 7-day strike notice

Malawians should brace for tough times in a week time when nurses in the county down their tools as the National Organisations of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi (NONM) has given Malawi  Government seven days to pay nurses working under Christian Hospitals Association of Malawi(CHAM),  their monetary entitlements or else the nurses down tool.

NONM President Dorothy Ngoma, made the announcement on Wednesday in Lilongwe during a news conference.

Ngoma said it is unfair for the government not to pay salary increments for health workers which government announced in October 2014.

She said NONM has since declared a dispute with government through Ministry of Health for failure to carry out its mandate of increasing salaries and leave grants for CHAM employees when public servants whose salaries are generated from the same pot got their money without any hustles.

Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) deputy Director and organizing Jessie Chingoma has since accused government for failing to implement what it pledged.

“It is unfortunate that government is failing to fulfill what it pledged in the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) where it pledged to pay salaries for all CHAM nurses,” said Chingoma.

NONM in accordance with provisions of labour relations act Section 43 has served  a seven day notice notifying the government that it will start striking on 12 March, 2015.

The following demands have since been forwarded to government. Firstly the NONM wants government to pay the nurses the newh salaries and leave grants effective immediately. NONM has also asked government to pay all areas dating back to October 2014 in full.

Thirdly CHAM wants government to write a commitment document highlighting that it will treat government and CHAM nurses equally.

They have, however, said failure by the government to solve their grievances within 7 days would compel them to go on strike.

Government bars health workers  and those from other essential services from striking but  nurses have often defied the directive – when necessary.