RHA workers set deadline for arrears

Regional Health Authority (RHA) workers are giving their employers an August 7 deadline to settle salary arrears. Hundreds of employees are owed money arising from the 15 percent salary increase negotiated by the Public Services Association (PSA) for public servants for the period 2002-2004. Other allowances are also due for payment including meal, laundry and uniform. While they are angered that payment has taken so long, one of the affected workers said they have decided not to take action on the advice of PSA president, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus. “Workers are depending on the money. This is the time of year when they have commitments to their families and children.” He gave the example of the need to purchase books for the new school term.

Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry with responsibility for RHAs, Reynold Cooper, told Newsday the money owed to the workers was still being quantified. Cooper said the Ministry was trying to ensure parity. He said “in some cases” payment to the RHA employee would result in their salaries going beyond their public service counterpart. He said the Ministry was trying to avoid this. Cooper said the Ministry was hoping to get funding from the Ministry of Finance for payment to be made by the end of July or early August.” He said he would meet with Baptiste-Primus to “iron out” some of the allowances and deal with the issue of increments. Cooper said the Ministry wants a uniform system in all the RHAs for dealing with the arrears owed to workers.