PSA DEFENDS CHANGES TO RHA ACT

Public Services Association (PSA) President Jennifer Baptiste-Primus charged yesterday that four years ago the United National Congress (UNC) reneged on an assurance to amend the Regional Health Authorities Act 1994, to give the PSA  Recognised Majority Union status (RMU) for monthly paid workers. The amendment to achieve this was passed last Friday in the House of Representatives. Yesterday, Baptiste-Primus reminded critics that the union has been fighting to get for the amendment for the past ten years.  At a media briefing at PSA Headquarters, Abercromby Street, she sought to “correct inaccurate and unfortunate” statements made in Parliament at last Friday’s debate on the Regional Health Authorities (Amendment) bill 2004, and comments by certain “provocateurs.”

Seeking to refresh the memories of UNC Members of Parliament Ganga Singh and Dr Hamza Rafeeq, she referred to a meeting on April 26, 2000 which Rafeeq attended along with former government officials — Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday; Attorney General, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj; Labour Minister, Harry Partap and Finance Minister Brian Kuei Tung. At the meeting, the PSA presented its concerns about the transfer of workers from the Public Service to the RHAs. Foremost among them was that it maintain RMU status for the workers. Baptiste-Primus said Panday said the Government would take the amendment to Parliament. He also assured that nurses would receive a 25 percent Incentive Allowance and a transition committee formed for the transfer of the nurses and other personnel.

However, the PSA head said the UNC took an amendment which gave the National Union of Government and Federated Workers RMU for daily paid workers in the Health Ministry and there was “not a word about the PSA and monthly paid officers.” Baptiste-Primus said the union questioned the discrimination but the only response was silence. She said under the Industrial Relations Act only two parties can register an agreement at the Industrial Court, an employee and the RMU. The PSA could not negotiate collectively for its members unless the amendment was made.