EWMSC protest escalates

Workers from the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) clashed with security guards yesterday after an attempt was made to eject their Public Services Association (PSA) representatives from the compound.

The PSA, and chief executive officer of the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) were scheduled to have a meeting on Monday with Health Minister John Rahael to discuss outstanding grievances which caused workers to take protest action at EWMSC over the past two weeks.

However, contacted yesterday, Health Minister John Rahael said he will not be involved in the meeting.

He said the condition under which he agreed to meet with workers was that they stop protesting. “Let them meet with the NCRHA. Let them work it out.”

PSA grievance officer Oral Saunders was addressing workers at the main entrance of the complex yesterday when a security guard from Allied Security informed him that workers could not congregate there. In an interview, Saunders said a “shouting match” ensued and workers resisted the attempt to remove him.

Saunders said, “MTS is authorised to take care of the compound and the management sent no memo to staff about the new security company firm. Workers have been clamouring for three years for additional security for shift changes and since the service went free to deal with the public. Ironically, they never got it.”

Workers marched to Building 39, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where they continued their protest. PSA first vice-president Stephen Thomas went to EWMSC at 10 am and spoke to staff.

Chief executive officer Charles Mitchell was caught up in the protest as he left building 39. Workers chanted, “Charles Mitchell must go!”

Saunders said the use of security guards to intimidate almost caused a serious situation.

He said there were six guards dressed in black, and several others dressed in blue and black.

Yvonne de Peiza, chairperson of the PSA’s EWMSC branch said guards were stationed at strategic locations around the complex. She said the MTS guards did not even know about the new security officer working. De Peiza said the guards were to “keep the PSA at bay.”

On Monday workers will continue their protest by wearing red.

The NCRHA issued a statement assuring the public that it will deal with any action which compromised services and regretted “the inconvenience caused to any member of the public due to the industrial action being currently undertaken.”

Responding to the PSA’s charges of rodent infestation in the kitchen and “murky water,” the NCRHA said independent consultants were hired to do an inspection and “did not find any infestation of rodents or pests in general.” The NCRHA said a meeting took place with kitchen staff and management last month and all outstanding issues raised by employees were noted and “are currently being addressed.”

The NCRHA said the water in the kitchen came from a potable supply from the Water and Sewerage Authority. “In addition, the complex has a central filtration system installed and the water has been deemed fit for consumption.” The NCRHA said a project team is dealing with the increments for employees and the authority was working toward a deadline of August 30.