Govt not dealing in good faith

THE Public Services Association (PSA) has accused government of moving like a “steamroller” over workers with its plan to transfer Health Ministry workers to the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). At a media briefing at PSA headquarters, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, association president Jennifer Baptiste-Primus said government was not setting a good example and accused them of not dealing in “good faith.”

She warned, “If government wants industrial peace in this country, they have to walk the good industrial relations role and deal in good faith.” Baptiste-Primus claimed that in excess of $20 million was missing from the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) and accused the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) of gross mismanagement. Baptiste-Primus said it was against this background that public service workers are being “forced” across to the RHAs. She demanded accountability and called on Prime Minister Patrick Manning to launch an  investigation.
 
“Where our money is being spent we have a right to accountability,” she said. The PSA has been meeting with workers and informing them of the impact of joining the RHAs. The PSA wants to be given majority recognition to represent RHA employees. The union, Baptiste-Primus said, is cautioning workers that their rights, pensions and terms and conditions of work were threatened. Meanwhile, the RHAs have hosted meetings with workers to highlight benefits of transferring including an incentive of three months’ salary in a lump sum payment as well as temporary workers being made permanent and workers in acting positions being confirmed to those positions.