GPSU failed to use proper channels for addressing concerns of nurses – GPHC

…as President commits to improving lives of frontline workers

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has expressed concern over the industrial action it said the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) instigated, noting that the Union failed to exhaust the legal means of addressing the concerns of the protesting nurses.

This was revealed in a statement on Saturday, in which the GPHC said that the GPSU should have exhausted the industrial relations practices and procedures that are laid down in the Public Utilities Undertaking and Public Health Service Act.
“We are deeply concerned that amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers from the GPHC have resorted to measures that can only aggravate the current situation and place additional challenges on our fragile public health system.”
GPHC claimed that not only does it provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for its staff to ensure they can remain safe while carrying out their duties, staff members also receive risk allowances in accordance with the Public Service Circular NO PS; 20/19.

“We intend to continue to provide those provisions for all workers at the GPHC, in accordance with the stipulated regulation. While we remain committed to timely and constructive engagements to consider the requests of our healthcare workers, we strongly advise them to refrain from accepting inappropriate advice and abandoning their duties to support further illegal protest action until every avenue provided for in the relevant legislation is exhausted.”
“Until such time, further protest action(s) remain illegal and may attract punitive action. In the interim, we recommend that proper industrial relations practices and procedures be observed, by all, in accordance with the Public Utilities Undertaking and Public Health Services Act and request that all healthcare practitioners continue to do their jobs in a professional manner; and await the provisions contained within the 2020 National Budget,” GPHC also said.

President commits
Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali was asked about the protests by the nurses on the sideline of an event on Saturday. He noted that the protests are illegal and, in fact, instigated by a small group of people.
According to the Head of State, he remains committed to improving the lives of health workers. But he noted that they have to work within financial constraints and moreover, with everyone in mind.
“In the five-year programme, we are looking at assistance in the housing programme. We are not only looking at increases in salaries, but better working conditions, better add-on benefits… We are assuring that all categories of workers at the end of the day have a better standard of living, better opportunities and greater prospects in the future,” he said.
“In running a country and a system, you can’t only look at one category of workers, you have to look at the broad spectrum because what you do in one category will affect what you do in another category,” President Ali added.
Only recently, some 30 nurses attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) had staged a protest over the late payment of salaries and the absence of their risk allowance.
The healthcare workers downed tools and stood in front of the hospital compound, where they displayed placards expressing their concerns. In addition, a number of nurses and a doctor from the West Demerara Regional Hospital also staged protest action, demanding better treatment.
However, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony had said that the nurses’ actions were premature as there is $150 million for risk allowances in the Budget, which had not yet been passed. He added that it was unfortunate that the nurses have taken to the streets to protest since there was no need for them to do so.