Staff of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) stepped up their protest for gratuity payments yesterday, downing tools and demonstrating in front of the institution.
Workers carried placards which read, “Gumbs must go,” “Vangendren Must go now, now, now,” “We need our money in February,” “Pregnancy and maternity leave is a right stop robbing the employees,” and “We want gratuity this month not March,” among others.
With the support of their union, the workers intensified their action after they failed in their efforts to have the Ministry of Health (MoH) agree to pay their gratuity in February as was done in previous years. A circular from the MoH, captioned “Gratuity Payment for period September 2010 to February 2011,” informed workers that they would be paid gratuity next month, with the official pay date being March 15.
Yesterday’s protest action did not have any serious effect on patient care. A walk-through the various departments saw as many as four members of staff on active duty. In the in-patient care and emergency units, senior staff was present taking up the slack. The workers’ commitment to care was also demonstrated as some key workers went running to the emergency unit when the ambulance arrived with a patient. “We don’t want people to think that we are heartless. There is a skeleton staff on duty and if there is an emergency, the relevant staff will go in and deal with it then come out when they are done,” Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Linden representative Maurice Butters told Stabroek News.
According to the circular, the payroll for the month of February was already completed, thereby impairing the ministry’s ability to incorporate gratuity at this stage. However, according to Butters, a supplementary payment sheet could be prepared to ensure that workers get their gratuity in February. “They did it in the past and so they can do it again,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the hospital’s administration, Public Relations Officer Reycia Nedd said that gratuity was paid in February and August, when the hospital was responsible for the payroll. “After the Ministry of Finance looked into it, they saw there was an error and that gratuity payment should be paid after the employee would have given six months’ resident service,” Nedd said. She further explained that at the end of the six months, an evaluation would be done based on performance and gratuity would then be issued. “So gratuity is now going to be issued in March and September of every year,” Nedd said.
According to Nedd, this was communicated to the GPSU in 2010 when a similar situation existed and the MoH had compromised by allowing the payments to be made in August as was being negotiated by the union. This was done with the understanding that this year the payments would be done in the correct manner. She said employees were informed in January 2011 about the change.
As regards the non-payment of gratuity for staff that would have been on authorized leave, including sick and maternity leave, Nedd said this was a decision taken by the MoH, resulting in a new gratuity clause in workers’ contracts.
The first to feel the effect of the new clause and one of the reasons for strike at the LHC is a senior registered nurse/tutor who has served for more than 30 years. According to the employee, who requested not to be named, her employers are very insensitive. She said she was shocked to learn from the personnel officer of the LHC that she was not entitled to gratuity because she was on continuous sick leave for four months and two weeks. “In the past, I received my gratuity and was expecting the same this time around. I don’t intend to sit idly around and let this go because I feel I must do it not just for me but for other employees,” she said.
She said it is unfair to employees because at the end of their tenure, they are not entitled to any pension and there is no medical scheme for them. “Thank God for NIS,” she added. According to the senior worker, the decision by the MoH can de-motivate the younger workers, forcing them to leave to take up employment in the private sector. She said that during her period of authorized leave, she worked extensively from her home with the students, resulting in 100% passes last year. “I am here because I really love what I do and I’ll ignore the negatives for now and work to ensure that my students pass and that would make me feel real good,” she stated. She said her commitment to the job is demonstrated in the fact that she is currently on duty in a wheelchair.
Checks were made with other institutions and entities that pay gratuity including the Regional Administration and it was confirmed that workers who would have been on authorized leave are paid gratuity for that period.
Among other issues of the strike are the five hours per week allotted for staff upgrades and no confidence in the LHC administration.
Workers say they intend to continue protesting until their requests are met in total and the longer this takes to be realized the more they will intensify their actions.
