‘WE DONE’

Polyclinic nurses in protest over ‘poor conditions’, hazard pay 

 By Sheria Brathwaite

A dozen nurses at the Maurice Byer Polyclinic have halted their duties and staged a work stoppage in protest against the inadequate working conditions and nearly two years without hazard pay. A Barbados TODAY reporter visiting the polyclinic observed several individuals seated in the waiting area, while the nurses were gathered near a bench on the lawn.

The nurses voiced their concerns about the Station Hill, St. Peter medical facility, attributing frequent illness to the establishment’s damp and mould-infested environment. Despite making suggestions to the management to address the issue, their pleas had fallen on deaf ears.

One nurse said: “The building has a lot of mould; it also harbours excessive moisture, particularly during rainfall. Many areas with electrical circuits remain damp. Every time you step into a room, you suffer from various respiratory conditions – runny nose, burning eyes, and throat discomfort.”

Another disgruntled healthcare worker said: “We attempted discussions with management. However, yesterday’s meeting proved unproductive. Although we reported for duty, we are withholding work because we feel unsafe in this building. How can we provide care in such an unsafe environment?”

A third nurse explained that on Thursday morning, bleach was used to “mask” the overpowering scent of mould in the rooms, only exacerbating the situation. She described the smell as “pungent and intolerable”.

“The conditions here are dreadful. People fall sick every day. Even if you go on sick leave and return, you fall sick again because the conditions in the building remain unchanged, and the air conditioning is also non-functional,” she added.

The nurses pointed out that the environmental issues predominantly affected the rooms on the eastern side of the 48-year-old building, encompassing the doctor’s offices, immunization room, and family planning department.

Furthermore, the workers expressed their discontent over the absence of hazard pay since October 2021, questioning why their counterparts at other healthcare institutions were receiving it while they were not.

“We submitted hazard pay claims for October 2021 to February 2022, and up to this point, we have not received a single cent,” a nurse said. “Some colleagues submitted claims for hazard pay in March this year, and they have received no response either. Our communication with management always ends with empty promises, and when we reach out to the Ministry of Health, there is no update or record of our hazard pay.”

Caswell Franklyn, the general secretary of the Unity Workers Union, told Barbados TODAY that he instructed the workers not to carry out any tasks until their concerns were adequately addressed.

“I cannot condone people working under such conditions, especially in a healthcare institution. Therefore, I have advised them not to work until these issues are rectified,” he declared.

In response to the situation, the Ministry of Health, via the Barbados Government Information Service, issued a brief statement, saying it is working with the polyclinic’s management to address the environmental issues.

“The clinic closed early today due to a staff shortage following complaints from some employees,” said the statement. “The Ministry will keep the public updated on when full services will resume at the polyclinic.”

Barbados TODAY has learned that the polyclinic is scheduled for extensive industrial cleaning over the weekend, and health authorities will convene a meeting with staff next week to address their grievances.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb