Kingston, Jamaica (McKoy’s News) – Nurses Take Industrial Action: Jamaican nurses are not happy with the government’s three percent wage offer in year one and year two as well as a freeze on allowances. Carmen Johnson, President of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ), has stated that the nurses are upset about wage negotiations for the 2017-2019 period which have stalled.
Nurses Take Industrial Action: As a result, several nurses have reported sick and services at government-run health facilities have been disrupted as the nurses are taking industrial action.
At some facilities, Ms. Johnson said as much as 90 percent of staff did not show up for work, while in other major facilities, about 50 percent were absent. This, she pointed out, could cause a scaling down of health services.
The NAJ President said that in regards to the 3% offer, the Ministry of Finance said that it will inform the nurses as soon as there is an available date to resume negotiations. She also mentioned that following wage talks with Health Minister Christopher Tufton, he has offered to look at the issues of housing, appointments, employment and resources.
In the meantime, Opposition Spokesman on Health Dr. Dayton Campbell has urged the Government to speedily address the situation so that normality can return to the health sector.
He said the Opposition views the Government’s wage offer to the nurses as an insult.