Workers must reapply for their own jobs

"You cannot provide emergency health service on the basis of maximising profits and take the people working in the system and suddenly put their jobs on the line and tell them they must reapply," said Stephen Thomas, the first vice-president of the PSA which is representing EHSTT staff.

Thomas said the Government is paying GMRTT $174 million over a three-year period and the company would inherit the new fleet of ambulances purchased by the Health Ministry last year.

In an interview with Newsday over the weekend, workers expressed "frustration" at having to go through the whole process of applying for jobs they already have and the new conditions of work which, they said, would result in longer hours and less pay.

Thomas said all the workers who are hired (even those with the company for five years) would be on probation for six months. "Any leave in the first six months would be deducted from their pay and beyond ten days vacation leave there is no provision for any kind of other leave at this time."

He said workers in managerial positions may also find themselves in lower positions.

Thomas said GMRTT, which is a joint venture between Amalgamated Security Services Ltd and US Global Medical Response, has unilaterally put forward a timetable which would have workers on monthly shifts of 192 hours, 204 hours or 216 hours at a flat rate. He criticised the non-payment of overtime, saying the company was taking "total advantage" of the workers.

Thomas also said it was dangerous to have EMTs working extended hours for six months operating equipment and driving ambulances.

Under the present system, the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) could work as dispatchers for three months and be paid an allowance. Thomas said workers have been instructed that they could either be a dispatcher or EMT, but there will be no more rotations.

He said meal and laundry allowances totalling $250 will be stopped from October 1, while quality assurance and vehicular safety officers will no longer receive responsibility allowances.

Additional allowances paid for workers acting in supervisory positions will also be stopped.

Thomas said workers were told their applications must be submitted between September 5 and 9.

A source told Newsday that the EHS workers’ leave would be "bought out" and that the money being paid to GMRTT included the purchase of equipment.

The EHSTT service started as a pilot programme under the management of the Latin America branch of the Canadian company Tri Star, and as the service expanded nationally it was handed over to the South West Regional Health Authority in 2003.