NOMN Supports Servants Strike

National Organisation of Nurses and Midwifes of Malawi (NONM) says it is supporting the planned civil servants nationwide strikes organised by the Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) and Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) next week.

NONM's president, Shauts Galang'anda Simeza, told Zodiak Online Thursday night that salary increament demands by their sister unions are valid.

Simeza says since majority of its membership are civil servants that are requesting the government to address salary mismatch against the high living cost, the organisation supports the move.

He, however, indicated that the organisation may need to define the legality of the strike before actual joining because it was not party to the negotiation team.

"In short, in as much as we are weighing towards the strike because life is tough, we are also indicating that we may not join the real strike up until we define what the sister unions and government agreed or disagreed upon," he explained.

Health rights activist, George Jobe, without interfering with work agreement between the two sides, observed that the timing is bad amidst the cholera outbreak.

Jobe has since pleaded with the health personnel not to down tools as it may lead to more preventable deaths.

He appealed: "Our concern as Malawi Health Equity Network is the timing of the strike that we have cholera amidst us and people are dying. So whatever happens our appeal on behalf of Malawians, the health system must continue thriving."

The civil servants unions have planned the strike to be held from next week Monday 9 January, in order to push government to consider revising upwards salaries to match with the 25 percent devaluation effected last year.

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