Med Techs again on sick out over non-payment of retro money

The Ministry of Health is now moving to pay retroactive money owed to medical technologists who have again taken industrial action.

More than 80 workers, who are employed to the Blood Bank and the National Public Health Laboratory in Kingston, have been on sick-out since yesterday.

The action has affected operations at both institutions.

The Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), says the med techs are upset that the health ministry has failed to honour a promise to pay them.

UTASP General Secretary St Patrice Ennis says the workers were presented with cheques late Friday evening, well after banking hours.

But Ennis says when they went to encash the cheques on Monday they were informed that the cheques were not signed by an authorised person.

He says to compound the issue, some of the cheques had incorrect names and some had incorrect amounts.

Ennis says the workers were left feeling embarrassed and disrespected.

He says the ministry has since informed that corrected cheques are being prepared and should be disbursed by this evening and has asked for a meeting to discuss the concerns of the union and the workers.

But, Ennis says they do not see the need to meet given that the ministry is already aware of the issues.

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