COOKS BOILING MAD

The noisy protestors said they decided to take this action to call attention to poor working conditions they have been enduring while at the same time, complaint after complaint has fallen on deaf ears. They are demanding to be provided with basic cooking utensils, saying that often times they have to bring potspoon and other utensils from home, or buy new ones, to be used in the kitchen.

According to the protesting workers, some of them began bringing to work their own utensils and appliances from home over the past two weeks in order to prepare meals for patients.

Asked why they had to do this, the protestors said that the hospital’s equipment was so rundown as to be rendered unusable.

An official from the Public Service Association (PSA) who is affiliated with the hospital staff said that in addition to being poorly equipped, kitchen staff are unable to prepare hot meals for patients due to a damaged boiler. “It’s really sad what we are seeing here in the year 2017, because this isn’t the first time we’ve made calls for better equipment.

“For weeks now the workers have been bringing their own tools and utensils to work to prepare meals. Something as simple as kitchen knives and ladles they have to source for themselves.” Protesting workers added that because of their dedication and desire not to see patients stave, they have worked for so long in these conditions while hoping their complaints would be attended to.

The PSA representative said the entire hospital has been beset by a lack of equipment. The kitchen workers yesterday vowed to continue their protest until something is done. Hospital sources later told Newsday that following the early-morning protest, officials from the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sheldon Cyrus met with the kitchen staff and branch representatives of the PSA.

The aim of the discussion, Newsday was told, was to decide on temporary provisions for staff and options for improving working conditions. Attempts to contact CEO Cyrus via his cellular phone for a comment yesterday were unsuccessful.