Adding to the many ongoing labour disputes in the country, auxillary staff from the Princess Margaret Hospital and Sandilands Rehabilitation Center took to the streets yesterday in a protest over several work grievances.

While officials did not call it a strike, workers refused to go into work yesterday morning due to an outstanding risk allowance and not receiving their hazard pay.

The group marched from the newly constructed critical care center at the Princess Margaret Hospital to the Public Hospitals Authority Headquarters on Collins Avenue.

Union Leader John Pinder spoke with the Bahama Journal about the reasons for the walk out and what’s being done to resolve the issues.

“From we signed the industrial agreement in 2014 on behind of the staffers; we were trying to get every person that worked in Sandilands, The Rand Memorial Hospital and the Princess Margaret Hospital either a risk allowance of $200 a month or the hazard pay of $200 a month in absence of them not having insurance coverage.

“We thought it was unfair for one category of workers to have it and the other group doesn’t, The $200 normally assist workers with being able to get proper coverage, the ambulance department has since received but the persons that are out here today consists of the housekeeping, laundry, the porters and medical records,” Mr. Pinder said.

Obviously with workers who play such a vital role in the care of persons seeking medical attention, the question was asked who are taking care of the patients Pinder said it should be business as usual.

“My people have been very tolerant with PHA, as they’re currently working under an unfair shift system, but they recognize the importance of their services to the general public because our families need patient care but I commend them for taking a stand to get the attention this matter deserved to get the issue resolved,” Mr. Pinder said.

The union president said he had a conversation with Labour Minister Shane Gibson on Saturday.

He added that union representatives along with government consultant Frank Carter are expected to engage in discussions with the Public Hospital Authority to amend the industrial agreement and get the matter resolved as quickly as possible.

Pinder said he hopes to have the issue resolved by September.

The workers were instructed to return to work after the demonstration.