Stephanie Coleman, Gleaner Writer
THE NURSES Association of Jamaica (NAJ) claimed a small victory this week when the Ministry of Finance and Planning pledged to review a controversial reclassification exercise and the Ministry of Health agreed to extend the secondment dates until January 31.
The three parties met on Wednesday at the Ministry of Finance and Planning head office, National Heroes Circle, Kingston.
According to NAJ president Edith Allwood-Anderson, executive members of the NAJ, including a negotiation team, had open and frank discussion with ministerial personnel and had a number of presentations on the issue.
Mrs. Allwood-Anderson told The Gleaner that the Minster of Health apologised for the contentious letters of transfer of nurses to the Regional Health Authority.
The NAJ president said the Ministry of Health granted the extension of the secondment dates in light of internal issues between the Health and Finance ministries and the Services Commission that interfered with the smooth transfer of nursing staff from their present agencies to the Regional Health Authorities.
NO NEGATIVE IMPACT
According to a pre-meeting press release from the Ministry of Health, "the transfer of staff to the Regional Health Authorities has been ongoing for seven years, ... and has no negative impact on staff benefits such as pension and leave entitlement."
However Mrs. Allwood-Anderson pointed out that the NAJ has no problem with the overall objectives of the reclassification exercise, but with the manner in which it was carried out.
"The Ministry of Health went on a union busting streak, and undermined the collective bargain process laid down over the years," Mrs. Allwood-Anderson said.
"They went behind the associations back and met with one of 38 special interest groups and regional groups. It is indeed disrespectful to not call leaders of the NAJ to discuss the issue which is the role of the union," she continued.
Mrs. Allwood-Anderson maintained that the Ministry of Health had failed to formally inform the Regional Health Authorities of the employment terms and benefits of the nurses that would be transferred to them.
In spite of the pledges made at the meeting Mrs. Allwood-Anderson is sticking to the January 18 deadline announced at the NAJ's Second Council and Extraordinary General Meeting on January 8.
"We are waiting on written communication regarding the two items so we can read it and see if that position is the same as the one arrived at during the meeting. We take it in good faith that they will send it to us in writing,"
Mrs. Allwood-Anderson said.
