Enrolled nurses want their piece of pie

Nadisha Hunter, Gleaner Writer

Government's promise to pay $500 million in outstanding allowances to registered nurses has led at least one other public-sector group to lash out against the perceived unfairness reflected in the agreement.

Josephine Bedward, president of the Jamaica Association of Enrolled Nurses, told The Gleaner yesterday that the Government was acting unreasonably in paying one category of nurses and not another as they, too, play an important role in the health facilities.

She said they, too, are entitled to outstanding sums in fringe benefits and salary increases.

The nurses are to receive approximately $25 million for outstanding allowances.

"In 2008, we signed a heads of agreement when they said they have 15 per cent (pay increase). In 2009, we were supposed to get a further seven per cent; they told us that they would freeze it and we sat and waited patiently and, to date, no concrete argument for our payment is forthcoming," Bedward said.

"If they are going to honour an agreement with another group, they need to pay us too," she added.

Enrolled nurses are supervised by registered nurses at health facilities.

Charles' appeal ignored

The call came despite an appeal from Pearnel Charles, minister of labour and social security, for other public-sector workers to ease their wage demands on the Government.

Bedward argued that the enrolled nurses waited patiently in the interest of the Jamaican people and it was now time to take drastic action.

She warned that the public should brace for disruption in the health sector if the enrolled nurses do not get their payment.

"The enrolled nurses are on red alert. No surrender, no retreat. We want our piece of the pie too," Bedward charged.

She said she would be meeting with the unions that represent the group to decide on the next move.

The registered nurses, who make up the membership of the Nurses' Association of Jamaica, were promised that they would receive their outstanding allowances by the end of next month.

Meanwhile, the Government is yet to say when other public-sector groups will receive their outstanding payments.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com