Tuesday, 06 November 2012
DENOSA will form part of about 1200 trade union leaders representing public servants from all over the world which will be gathered at the ICC in Durban from the 27th to 30th November 2012 to attend the 29th world congress of Public Services International (PSI), which they are all affiliated to.
The four-day congress will be hosted by eight PSI-affiliated South African trade unions, and will set policy and action plans on key issues concerning trade union rights and advancing public services for the common good.
As a thought leader on issues in the health sector, Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) has successfully submitted a draft resolution on universal access to healthcare, which will be discussed at the congress.
DENOSA’s position on the issue of universal access to healthcare is premised on the notion that health is a fundamental human right that should be accessible to all people. It notes that health is fast becoming a privatised commodity and that its accessibility has become a privilege and no longer a fundamental right.
Under the draft resolution, DENOSA believes that the cost of healthcare in the South and Africa in particular is worsened by extreme shortage of human resources and infrastructure.
PSI President Dave Prentis says “In South Africa and around the world, public sector unions are campaigning for quality public services. We recognize that equable distribution of growth and sustainable development is only possible where the highest level of quality public service is upheld.
“We believe that public services should guarantee accessibility and affordability. It should also elevate the quality of life of its consumers and its citizens. The PSI further advocates for public services to be democratically accountable and to provide for social justice.”
Tozama Mantashe, Chairperson of PSI South African Congress Coordinating Committee added, “The Quality Public Services-Action Now! Campaign has contributed to the community building legacy in Durban. This project has engaged unions, civil society organisations and eThekwini
municipal representatives in social dialogue in order to improve public service delivery to local residents.”
This initiative was also endorsed by the Council of Global Unions.
The world congress will be hosted by the following PSI’s eight South African public service affiliates:
- Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA);
- Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (HOSPERSA);
- National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU);
- National Public Service Workers Union (NPSWU)
- National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW)
- Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU)
- South African Democratic Nurses Union (SADNU)
- South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU)
PSI is a global trade union federation representing 20 million working women and men who deliver vital public services in 150 countries.
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For the media to obtain authorised accreditation in order to attend congress proceedings, please email it to Teresa.Marshall@world-psi.org
Further inquiries:
Email: Nombuso Madonda: International Relations Coordinator DENOSA: nombusom@denosa.org.za
