Nurses protest for retroactive pay and allowances

By Kimone Witter    

 

Midwives, registered and enrolled nurses across the island, frustrated with the lack of response from the authorities to their calls for the payment of retroactive overtime and uniform allowances, wore black on Monday in protest.

 

The healthcare workers explained that their wage agreements were signed in April 2022 under the new public sector compensation scheme.

 

But, since then, they say they have faced financial hardship and distress yet they still continue to provide essential services.

 

In an advisory to members informing them of the planned action, the Jamaica Midwives Association, said all attempts to get redress have fallen on deaf ears.

 

In an interview with Radio Jamaica News, president of the Jamaica Midwives Association, Sharon Banbury Edwards, said the payments should have started in August 2024. 

 

"So for the financial year that's passed, we would have signed a memorandum of understanding with the government from 2022, which ends March 31st, 2025. And based on the compensation package, some things would have [been] agreed on. And the financial year is coming to a close, and we are still not settled where that is concerned. So there [is] some back money that is owed to us, and that's what we're dissatisfied about.... To date we have not received same," she complained. 

 

Mrs. Banbury Edwards said a circular from the Ministry of Finance directed that the outstanding sums should be paid to the midwives.  

 

Radio Jamaica News was informed that directives were also sent to the regional health authorities for the payment of retroactive monies to begin August last year for registered and enrolled nurses.  

 

But Mrs. Banbury Edwards believes the regions are causing the delay.