Med techs unhappy over union’s refusal to ink wage deal
Published:Monday | August 21, 2023 | 12:10 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Medical technologists are said to be disgruntled over the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel’s (UTASP) reported lack of action regarding their wage negotiations.
They are unhappy about the delay in signing a new wage agreement which would see them receiving significant increases in their monthly salaries as well as the manner in which the union voted not to accept the increase, reportedly ignoring the union’s members who wanted it.
Speaking with The Gleaner over the weekend, Donaldo Montaque, senior medical technologist at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St James, noted that the medical technologists’ grouse and any potential action they may take was not against the Ministry of Health and Wellness or the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.
“This is not a strike against the Government. It is against the union and against the chief delegate, Franklyn Whyte, who refuses to sign our wage agreement, and we are the only ones in the healthcare system and the public sector who have not received any retroactive sums and new salaries. We want to sensitise the public on what is going on and try to get some intervention from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and also the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, from someone who can assist or help us because the medical technologists islandwide are suffering,” said Montaque.
Dire straits
“Right now, an entry-level medical technologist is making $95,000 per month, and with the new wage increase, they could make upwards of $240,000 per month. So you realise that it is a sizeable increase, and it is really dire straits for us right now because everything has increased,” said Montaque. “With high inflation and new interest rates, we are suffering because persons are not making it to work, persons cannot take care of their families, and persons have to withdraw their kids from school.”
Documents received by The Gleaner indicate that under the current proposed compensation review, a junior medical technologist’s minimum yearly salary would increase from $1,146,743 as at April 1, 2021 to $2,998,418 as at April 1, 2023. Senior medical technologists would see their minimum yearly salaries increase from $2,634,885 to $7,293,757 across the corresponding periods.
However, Jacqueline Holness, the chief medical technologist at the Portland-based Port Antonio Hospital, said that to date, UTASP’s delegates have got empty assurances regarding their salaries.
“Several months ago, we at the North East Regional Health Authority told our delegates to report at the delegates’ meeting that we need our new salary even though it is not where we would like it to be, but it is still better than what we are getting now. We are frustrated and disgruntled because the cost of living is at its highest, and we cannot afford to continue with the same meagre salary as these hard times are taking a serious toll on us,” said Holness. “Our chief delegate at times belittles us with parables and tells us that we are too desperate. Enough is enough! We need our money, and we need it now.”
When contacted for a response, UTASP president St Patrice Ennis said in a brief statement that the issue may likely end up before the court.