Nurses disgruntled over underpayment

Registered nurses and Enrolled Nursing Assistants are running out of patience with the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) because of the employer’s failure to implement the 25 percent Incentive Allowance based on their new salaries. It is still being paid according to their 1998 basic salary although the Public Services Association has negotiated a ten percent salary increase for 1999-2001 and 15 percent for 2002-2004. Some nurses are also working without contracts although they have been with the NWRHA since 1996/1997.

A nurse at St Ann’s Hospital has already signalled a warning to the authorities: “Nurses will not work the entire year without bringing the system to a halt.” Nurses at Port-of-Spain General Hospital and Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex are also affected. The nurse said staff morale is low and there is a feeling of general frustration at St Ann’s due to staff shortages, the risks of dealing with mentally-ill patients inside the hospital and even when they are walking the streets, seeing their patients also suffer from the conditions. “And they are making us stay in nasty conditions,” the nurse complained. The absence of security of tenure is another grouse. Only persons in managerial positions are permanent. Nurses, attendants, wards, maids, clerical and occupational therapy staff, Patient Care Assistants have had to work with temporary contracts or none at all.

“Some people get one year contracts and never got new contracts.  They are getting paid without a new contract. They have nothing to show they are bonafide workers of the NWRHA.” These workers have been given letters of continuation but it does not state an appointment date. The nurse said after two years of continuous employment they should have been made permanent employees. “We are being underpaid, conditions are terrible and we cannot even go to a bank to conduct any serious business.” Newsday contacted the NWRHA Corporate Com-munications Department about the situation but there was no comment up to press time.