Dear JudyI am working for Element six in Nuffield, Springs. For five years since I have been working there, I have never known what grade I am falling under.
Throughout the whole company only about 20% are graded and they are mostly fitters and technicians, none of the operators.
Late 2007 we had a meeting with our shop-stewards and the organiser form Numsa Springs branch. They promised to bring a professional to do the grading last year but to no avail.
And now the problem thickens as the company seized our bonuses we earned last year for the recession that mostly started to affect us this year. Most of our members are considering jumping ship and joining Solidarity, a union that is dominated by whites, fitters and technicians at our company.
Please help, we are being exploited and it seems like our shop-stewards are not affected or are not doing their jobs.Worried workers Dear comradesWhen we deal with problems, let’s focus on the objectives rather than making threats.
If you want to join Solidarity, you are most welcome even though there’s no guarantee that you will get what you want.
The shop-stewards whom you’ve said are not effective or not doing their jobs, have indicated that they are the ones who have been behind this matter since last year until they held the meeting where they have decided to pause on the grading issue and continue with it after the retrenchments are over.
Even your employers have the same framework as the shop stewards. By the look of things, you seem to be the only one not updated.
Please try to attend meetings in order to have the necessary information. Since retrenchments are just temporary, the shop stewards are speculating that the meeting on grading will be anytime soon, probably before the end of this year.
Dear Judy This is to show my concern about the medical scheme. Previously we had benefited a lot on this medical aid scheme.
This is because it was made clear in the beginning that this scheme was formed to help the low-income earners. I am disappointed because it appears as if the scheme is no longer meeting the needs of the workers.
We see the new laws introduced in the scheme without consultation of the workers and this makes me to suspect that there are some people who are benefiting from this scheme and not workers.
I am saying this because previously we did not have problems as complex as these that we are facing when we have consulted doctors.
Here are some of the problems we are facing daily:-1. We are forced to change our doctors if they are not on the list of doctors chosen by the scheme.2. If your doctor does not appear on the list you have to pay the doctor and the scheme’s monthly fee.3.
Before the scheme covered everything but now for certain ailments you have to equally share the payments for certain medical consultations with the individual paying half and the scheme paying the remaining half.4.
At pharmacies we are required to pay some hefty levies. This problem made me to consider terminating my membership on the scheme.I would like you to investigate what went wrong with the scheme and the consultation should at least be quarterly.Thank youT.C Keepo
Dear TC Keepo
We forwarded your letter to MotoHealth. This is how they responded.
“The fact that members on the Custom and Essential options were having trouble with the Care Cross network was brought to the attention of the Steering Committee early in 2009.
The main problems that were being reported were: – Doctors not available in areas where members worked or lived- Doctors not available in areas where dependants worked or lived.- Doctors asking members to pay for services- Members not able to get the medicines they received last year.
The Steering Committee set up a meeting with the management of Care Cross to address these problems, and the following was put in place to assist members- Care Cross contracted a number of new Doctors to service members in areas where there previously were no or insufficient Care Cross Doctors available.- Care Cross representatives visited the Doctors’ Practices to ensure that the Doctor and the staff of the practice were trained on the Care Cross system and protocols.
Management of Moto Health Care in conjunction with management of MMSA and Care Cross did presentations to members and employers across the country.- Members who were not aware of the network and consulted non-network doctors in January and the beginning of February 2009, could apply to have their claims paid from their out of area/emergency limit of R1000 (one thousand rand) per family per year.- Weekly meetings between the Fund and Care Cross were held to ensure that problems were being addressed and continuous feedback was taking place (these meetings still take place on a regular basis).
A communication strategy targeted at the employer, the employee and the Care Cross provider was outlined; Communication to the employers and employees is finalised and posters have been circulated to all HR Departments.
This involvement at senior level plus the actuarial analysis performed proved successful in reducing the problems our members were experiencing, which resulted in the Steering Committee choosing not to cancel the Care Cross contract.
The Steering Committee also requested that the Principal Officer – Murida Khan – perform additional benefit costings on the chronic medication and dental benefit. The outcome of this is the following:
On the 2nd July 2009, the Principal Officer shared her findings with Steering Committee and made the required recommendations. The Steering Committee approved the following benefits for the 2009 benefit year.
Custom Option – Chronic MedicationMembers on the Custom option who were members of the Prudent option in 2008 and were receiving chronic medication whilst on the Prudent option, may apply for an ex-gratia benefit for chronic medication for 2009.
This will be paid subject to an annual sub-limit of R3500, limited to the annual Major benefit of R150 000. Medicines must be obtained from ChroniCare subject to the basic Mediscor formulary. Members must contact Momentum Medical Scheme Administrators to register their chronic condition.
Members can also contact the Call centre to determine what medication is on the Basic Formulary or visit the Moto Health Care website, www.motohealthcare.org.za, where the formularies can be viewed via the Mediscor link. Custom Option – DenturesMembers and their adult dependants, who require dentures and or repairs to existing dentures, will be able to claim 1 pair of acrylic dentures for the 2009 benefit year.
The Fund did not provide for this benefit in 2009, therefore we will apply the ruling set out in the 2008 Prudent option.
Claims will be paid strictly in accordance with the guideline price set out in the National Health Reference Price List (NHRPL), with an annual sub-limit of R1325 subject to the major benefit of R150 000 per annum.
Note Well: We have already contacted your dentist. If you have submitted a claim for dentures this year; we are currently reviewing each case and will notify you shortly of the benefit you will receive.
This review process includes checking prior claim history to verify that no previous claim was submitted in respect of dentures. Denture requirements do vary per person, and the patient must submit a quotation from the dentist to the Administrator.
This will be authorised in accordance with the Funds requirements.
Source
Numsa News