New protest action looms at Mt Hope

The PSA may take this action despite appeals from Health Minister John Rahael not to withhold its services from the population because this could put the lives of patients at stake.

On Friday, several clinics at the EWMSC were closed as staff heeded the PSA’s call for a boycott of work. In an interview yesterday, Rahael told Newsday the latest information he received was that EWMSC was not operating at critical alert levels and that everything was calm at Mt Hope. The minister said he had been informed that all doctors and nurses at EWMSC had reported for duty and the majority of the facility’s workers, except some clerical and other support staff, had remained on the job last week despite the PSA’s call.

Rahael said while the workers had concerns to be addressed, those concerns did not justify “withholding services to people who are ill.” Reiterating that health is an essential service, Rahael appealed to the workers to let good sense prevail and to return to the negotiating table with the NCRHA’s board of directors.

He said there was no need for the ministry to get involved at this time and was confident that the NCRHA’s board was willing to address the workers’ concerns.

However, PSA (EWMSC) chairperson, Yvonne De Peiza, did not dismiss the possibility of the complex being affected by staff shortages today and said any number could play.

She said employees have been asked to wear red today and when they come to work, the PSA will inform them of the next step in the protest action. De Peiza said several clinics at EWMSC were affected last Friday when staff did not report for work but she could not say if that action had achieved the objectives which the PSA had hoped for.

De Peiza reiterated that last week’s action was part of a long- term struggle and expressed confidence that the population would accept the workers’ reasons for staying off the job. She argued that the workers’ action was not just about money but ensuring that proper facilities are in place at EWMSC to provide quality health care for the population.

Efforts to contact executives of the NCRHA for comment yesterday were unsuccessful. Last Friday, the NCRHA issued statements to inform the population that essential services at the EWMSC remained unaffected despite the workers’ protests, and contingency plans were in place should the need arise.