Hospital porters have downed tools over working conditions and salaries.
The staff who work at Groote Schuur Hospital say they are tired of “working for peanuts”.
Siseko Kanzi says he has been at the job for three years, but is still earning just R2500 per month.
“It is not fair that I have been working at the hospital for this long and all I am getting is R2500. There are no benefits and we are expected to work with Covid patients.
“We may not work directly for the hospital, but we are asking them to start in-sourcing and absorb us and take us as permanent workers so we can get the benefits,” says Siseko.
He says they had a meeting with the hospital and shared their grievances, but nothing has changed.
“This peaceful protest has been planned for more than a year because we saw that the hospital is not trying to improve our working conditions,” says Kanzi.
“We were always scared to stand up for ourselves, but now we decided enough is enough.”
Groote Schuur Hospital spokesman Byron La Hoe says the calls for in-sourcing will be addressed.
“The protesting porters are contracted by an external company and not employed by the hospital.
“The salary concerns should be directed to their employer while the calls for in-sourcing will need to be addressed via their bargaining council.
“We have been informed that all salaries were paid by 11am on 1 February and all porters had returned to work.”
Kanzi says Staffing Direct Solutions paid him only R600 for the month of January.
Staffing Direct Solutions was not available for comment and the Daily Voice was only told they were still engaging with the workers on their demands.