Some UWU-led striking nurses return to posts

General Secretary of the Unity Workers’ Union (UWU) Caswell Franklyn says some of the nurses who were on strike for weeks have returned to work.

He told Barbados TODAY that even though the nurses are dissatisfied that their grievances and concerns have not been resolved, they made the decision to return to work after experiencing financial difficulties from having their pay docked. Though he could not say how many of the 80 nurses who initially went on strike in late November last year have returned to work, he noted that nurses are still off the job and are insisting that the authorities look into resolving their longstanding concerns.

“Some of them came to me and said, ‘Mr Franklyn we can’t hold out any longer and we would go back to work’. Not that they are happy about it, but they got to do it because of their financial situation. On the other hand, there are some nurses who say that they would rather leave the nursing profession than to continue under these conditions.

“The Government wants to have a union that they could negotiate with that are their friends. Everything that we have asked for they are now giving to the other nurses, but we really don’t care as long as the nurses get the benefit,” he said.

The nurses began strike action last December to press Government  to deliver better working conditions and increased pay, health insurance, improved nurse-to-patient ratios, remuneration for degrees and continuous training.

In January, scores of nurses marched through The City to pressure the Mia Amor Mottley administration to address their longstanding grievances.

“The nurses in Unity Workers’ Union, they mandate actions and they have said to me that they are not looking to give up. I can only give that message,” Franklyn said.

Last weekend, Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill announced that Government would reintroduce the payment of a stipend to student nurses after it was stopped nearly eight years ago.

The minister said the move will benefit 273 student nurses to the tune of approximately $2 million per year and will not only act as an incentive to attract persons to the profession, but will also make it possible for students not having to work and study at the same time. He said it also offers some compensation to students for the services provided to healthcare facilities as a component of their clinical training.

First-year nursing students will be paid a stipend of $458.98 per month; second year $578.53; third year $698.16 and fourth-year $798.16.

Franklyn said that while the reintroduction of the stipend is one of the initiatives the nurses on strike have been fighting for, he said it is merely enough for bus fare and should be seen as a “joke”.

“Our position is that it should be at least $1 000 because it is supposed to prevent them from going and looking for work while they are studying. But you cannot give a fellow $400 and expect him or her not to go and find income somewhere else.

“They are studying full time and you are telling me now that you will only give them $400. It should be across the board that if you are a nursing student you should get a stipend of $1000,” Franklyn said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb