Money for workers Tuesday

The planned shutdown of the Eric Will-iams Medical Sciences Complex was aborted yesterday when workers of the North West Regional Health Aut-hority (NWRHA) re-ceived news that the Payroll Department had begun processing the payment of outstanding increments totalling $10 million. Workers assembled at the front entrance of the Complex from 9 am with the intention of going to the Ag chief executive officer’s office for a guarantee that the payroll department was instructed to begin preparing their pay sheets.

Health Minister Colm Imbert had given an assurance two weeks ago that workers would be paid by the end of September. However, Yvonne de Peza, a staff representative for the Public Services Association, said she heard last Friday that the Public Sector Negotiating Committee had given final approval for the increments and the Ag CEO had been directed to instruct the Payroll Department to start work.  But checks on Monday and Tuesday revealed that this had not happened. This prompted NWRHA workers to protest yesterday. De Peza said the authorities must have gotten word of their action because vice-president of Fin-ance contacted her yesterday with news that payroll had started working on the pay sheets. “The money should be ready and in your account no later than Tuesday,” De Peza told workers.

She said the Payroll Department would work over the weekend and do overtime to ensure the payment is made. De Peza told the workers they were on the “right track” and the next step is seeking permanent appointment for temporary workers. She told them that the struggle had not ended since there were many other issues of which the PSA is aware. Although payment has been settled in one area, workers of the Central Sterilising and Processing Department (CSPD) complained to Newsday about money owed to them because of underpayment over the past four and a half years. Instead of being paid as CSPD operators they were paid as “ordinary technicians.”  Salary adjustments and correct payment is being implemented this month. A worker, who declined to give his name, said the Ag chief executive officer said the arrears  will be paid in November. “We want it before Novem-ber, we understand there is money to be paid.”