HEALTH WORKERS BACK ON JOB

The meeting will take place at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope and was scheduled by the minister to put a halt to more protest by workers. In an interview yesterday, Thomas said, “we are not meeting the minister by himself. He has no authority to take decisions for the RHA.” When Newsday spoke to him, a time had not been set for the meeting and Rahael yesterday said the meeting was scheduled for June 26, not Tuesday.

High on the agenda for discussion will be the dismissal of two members of the PSA’s EWMSC branch. Thomas said the PSA wants the workers reinstated by the NCRHA since their firing was “illegal.” He said the letters of permanent employment which workers (with two and more years continuous service) were to get since April 2002 will also be discussed.

Thomas said, “we will also discuss the failure of the NCRHA to put in place an inventory management system to stop pilferage of essential medical stores. Controls must be put in place to ensure persons do not take food stuff in the kitchen which were purchased by the State for patients, to prepare their own meals to take home.” At the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) protesting workers were back on the job yesterday after Wednesday’s protest but they were “working less” said chairperson of the Public Services Association staff side Yvonne De Peiza.

She said the management could not say they were absent. De Peiza said the PSA had the support of workers in the pharmacy, medical records department, garage, cardiology and other clinics.

De Peiza said she had complained about the foul smell at the cardiology clinic area numerous times over the past two years and three engineers were at the department yesterday again investigating the complaint and asking the same questions. She said they were walking around the compound looking at areas. De Peiza said management put security guards at the entrance of the kitchen. She accused the NCRHA of “hurrying to do things” before the minister’s visit. During demonstrations last Thursday and on Wednesday, the PSA members highlighted the poor conditions at the kitchen.

Meanwhile yesterday, the NCRHA reported that all departments were operational with the exception of the cardiology clinic which was open for prescriptions only. There was also a partial shutdown of the dental clinic.

The CEO will meet with the PSA on July 6 to present a status report on all the issues they raised at the meeting held at EWMSC on June 8.