FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1. SAMA supports the demand for adequate remuneration for employees in the public sector. We urge Government to recognize the critical role that public sector workers play by showing commitment to adequate salaries and working conditions for all public sector workers. We echo the outrage of other unions regarding exorbitant Government expenditure on non essential items while stating there is not money for public sector workers. 
    
2. The current industrial action is a direct result of government’s failure to take workers demands seriously. We therefore fully support the right of public sector workers to engage in this current industrial action. 
    
3. Government has, for years, refused to negotiate and conclude a Minimum Service Level Agreement. This Agreement would have gone a long way to preventing the current chaos prevailing in our public hospitals. As SAMA we therefore place the blame for loss of life and patient harm suffered by the most vulnerable in our society, the poor, squarely at the door of Government.  
    
4. It is clear that the Department of Health has no contingency plan to deal with the strike and to render care to the members of the public. Using the military is completely inadequate in the face of a nationwide strike of over 1.3 million workers. The Department is using the weakened position that doctors face in having to be at work, thereby making doctors the contingency plan. SAMA regards this as an unacceptable abuse of our members.
    
5. SAMA notes that the Department of Health is prepared to incur large amount of costs in transferring patients to private hospitals but claims that there is no money to meet the demands of public service workers.
    
6. We also note with concern that several political leaders have brought media into public hospitals where they disregard the confidentiality of patients. This is unethical and under normal circumstances not permitted. All patients are entitled to their privacy and their treatment must never be broadcast to the public as part of a media campaign. We call for protection of patients from being used in media propaganda by Government. 
    
7. SAMA condemns all acts of violence and intimidation from both the State and striking workers which detracts from the genuine issues at hand. 
    
8. We call on our members to continue to deliver appropriate care to patients to minimise the negative impact of this conflict. 
    
9. We call on all our members to join picketing, marches and other public demonstrations of solidarity with striking workers.
    
10. SAMA calls on Government to concede to the reasonable demands of public sector workers and immediately sign a Minimum Service Level Agreement to ensure the safety of the public now and in the future.