by MIKE KING
THE NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC WORKERS (NUPW) has abandoned industrial action against the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), setting the stage for cordial talks over the next two days.
And according to NUPW general secretary Dennis Clarke, it could mean light at the end of the tunnel for some temporary workers over the next few months.
Yesterday, Clarke told the DAILY NATION that the union had agreed with the Ministry of Health on a way forward and was now likely to “sit down around the table” today and tomorrow.
On Monday, more than 60 placard-bearing hospital staffers, backed by the NUPW, staged protest action following the decision to place two women who recently joined the hospital on staff ahead of dozens of long-serving temporary workers.
“We have decided to discontinue industrial action and chart the way forward,” Clarke said after a closed-door meeting late on Tuesday.
Clarke said that the filling of vacancies and having a protocol in place to deal with substitute workers would be the major topics.
“The bone of contention has to do with the temporary workers who would have been substituting over the last six, seven or more years. When someone goes off on holiday or sick leave, these people come in and work till eventually there is an opening and that person then will get the pick.
“What they have done is bring in people from outside to go in the vacancies instead of bringing the ones who are substituting,” he said.
Chief executive officer of the hospital, Dexter James, said he was happy the NUPW had decided to discontinue the protest action.
“There is a lot of work to be done at the hospital, and we continue to invite the support of the trade union movement as a key social partner in the transformation and development of services at the QEH.
“I look forward to continued harmonious relationship with the trade union movement,” he said.
