Health ministry to meet JWU
Published:Monday | May 19, 2008 | 10:33 AM
The Health Ministry is tomorrow expected to meet with the Jamaica Workers Union (JWU), which represents about 1,500 health workers across the island, to discuss several issues affecting workers.
On Friday, the union served a 72-hour ultimatum on the health ministry and the various regional health authorities seeking an emergency meeting.
President of the union, Clifton Brown, said health workers at various government hospitals and health centres are becoming frustrated with the ministry’s failure, to address the deplorable conditions under which they have to work.
He said the ministry has been flouting international labour standards by seeking to employ workers on a contractual basis instead of officially appointing them.
Mr. Brown has also taken issue with the poor infrastructure and security at the Linstead Hospital in St. Catherine.
He said only last week an employee was raped and robbed.
Mr. Brown is urging the ministry to step in and fulfil the many promises it had made about improving the working conditions of employees at that facility.