DLP – Compromise must be reached in dispute

With no resolution in sight in the dispute between Government and striking nurses, the two sides have been told to get off their “high horses”.

Even as an undisclosed number of healthcare workers continue their weeks-long work stoppage, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader Verla De Peiza urged the government and the United Workers’ Union (UWU), the nurses’ representative, to “understand that the nurses are at the centre of the dispute” and the parties need to find resolutions to their issues.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an outreach event which was hosted by DLP candidate Dawn-Marie Armstrong at Jamoons Bar, Workmans, St. George over the weekend, De Peiza urged the Mia Mottley administration and the Caswell Franklyn-led UWU to come to a compromise.

Admitting that it was not the DLP’s fight, De Peiza said: “Last year this time we were clapping, this year we are clapping back at them and that cannot be how it is that we intend to treat nurses. A glow in the dark coin is not going to solve their problems, they actually do need to have hard solutions to their problems and it calls for level heads – it doesn’t call for ranting.”

After more than two years of talks, to date, neither the UWU nor government could reach agreement on issues relating to outstanding monies owed to nurses, health insurance, improved working conditions, better patient to nurses ratios, the introduction of safe zones, among others.

Last week Prime Minister Mia Mottley and other trade unionists criticised Franklyn for the ongoing strike action as they charged that his handling of the matter had not conformed to proper industrial relations protocol.

“At some point, my friends, he will have to stop because no one sent him out there. And the things he is complaining about have not happened. So I ask, why is he punishing the vulnerable and the sick? If you want to take action and take on the Government, my brother, find a constituency and run in it and take us on that way. But your fight is not even truly with the Government, because we know deep down that this is an act to boost your membership and to be politically divisive but let us remember who is at risk and who may die as a result of it,” Mottley said.

The outspoken trade unionist warned that he was set to up the ante on the protest action following the PM’s comments. (KC)