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On this day, 5 October 2001, workers at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi, launched a sitdown strike for better pay. In particular, the workers were complaining about wages and additional allowances, which were considerably lower for health workers than they were for workers in the justice system.
The strike shut down almost all of the 1500-bed facility, with only a few beds remaining open in the Orthopaedics and burns departments. The strike was primarily by nurses, but also included support staff and doctors.
The government responded by relocating some strikers, deploying armed police, reportedly using tear gas, and the ruling United Democratic Front brought local residents to threaten and intimidate the workers.
The Medical Association of Malawi and the Nurses and Midwives Association both denounced the action and threatened to discipline members who took part.
The strike ended on October 19 after the government promised to grant some of the workers' demands, and reinstate the relocated workers. However, five days later, the government rescinded their promise and sacked 12 workers in retaliation for the action.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/7965/malawi-hospital-workers-strike
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