With the island facing a severe shortage of nurses due to migration, the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) is expected to meet with the Dominica Nurses Association (DNA) and nurses in general next week to address their concerns.
General Secretary of the DPSU, Thomas Letang told DNO on Tuesday that the meeting will take place next week Tuesday, May 23.
“The meeting is to discuss some working issues that the nurses want to be addressed and that will include some of their working conditions and I know that they have been raising some concerns,” he said.
Letang continued, “Serious concerns were raised recently. This is the first time we are meeting with them to really get firsthand information from them and to decide on a way forward.”
He explained that a few years ago the union was able to see some improvement in working conditions of nurses.
“We were able to negotiate for new allowances, including the specialize allowance, also responsibility allowances were reviewed and increased,” he noted.
He stated, however, when the union met with the government last year (when the so-called ‘double bubble’ was paid) to negotiate for the new triennium, the government suggested to the DPSU that they should put allowances on hold in order to review all of them instead of just for a few.
He said the DPSU agreed to that proposal and the union was somewhat taken aback recently when it realized that the government was in direct discussion with the nurses regarding allowances.
Earlier this month the government announced several ‘incentives’ for nurses including a one-time special uniform allowance, an increase in night nourishing allowance, an increase in the allowance for district nurses, and an increase in on-call allowances for nurse practitioners. This was done to help stem the massive problem of nurse migration, especially after Hurricane Maria.
Letang said it is very likely that most or some of the nurses concerns will be addressed in the union’s proposal for salary negotiations for the new triennium.
I am calling on all nurses to give skerrit an ease up, the government is dealing with alot of problems after the hurricane, put your concerns on hold, what if you all were in his shoes?
For how many years have the nurses been screaming out for a pay increase and better working conditions? I would submit many years before the arrival of Maria. Each time the PM has kicked the can down the road. When is the right time? Why should the nurses continue to make personal sacrifices when Skerrit and his Cabinet Ministers live high off the hog. Why don’t you, Tetrahydrocanabinol, ask these guys to take a pay cut or give up some of their many perks and allowances. They have made no sacrifice since Maria, but, according to you, other underpaid public servants should. Skerrit is a filthy rich politician who needs no sympathy from anyone as he has never had it so good before he ascended to the throne of power.
Oh Lord…..What is so difficult for those incharge to understand that the nurses need LARGER PAY CHECKS and the freaking hospitals and clinics need to be upgraded…..PERIOD!!!!! What discussion is needed more?
Forget about uniform allowances or meal, that’s an insult to the nurses and the country on a whole. That is cheap and a slap in the face.
DLP will fix every problem in Dominica, once we seat on our hands and allow DLP to run things we have nothing to worry about. Drink all you rum , dance to the music and wake up the next morning and drink some cool-aid to go to the red-clinic for a pocket change. Is so things is so lets just live with it. Labor working.
I have never seen a more self imposed poverty from nationals anywhere else in the world like I am seeing in Dominica.
What I dont understand is why those Govt have to wait until the last minute to pay salary inceases. Why it always has to end up being a “back pay”. Public officers have to suffer first with low salary and wsges until Govt make up their mind to pay the pittance.
The Union starting to work at last. Good job guys fight for the hard working people for small pay. Dominicans need to stand up for there rights. No nurses no health care, No police no law and order and the government paying these sets of people nuts change. Right is right and wrong is wrong. All the oecs meeting they travelling to is just to filled their pocket, they need to travel and talk about the poor income they paying their front line workers and its time to boost it up.
Ibo France, I realize that you are a pain in the ahole, but their has been nurses problem or shortage of nurses all over the world for years Dominica is no deferent from anyother country it has always and will remain that way, for example Doctors and nurses are bounty hunters moving around the world for more more money and in the end it’s no better than what they left behind in terms of work.
Man bites dogs, the shortage of nurses and the requisite medical resources needed in Dominica are extremely acute. In fact, it has risen to crisis level where people’s lives have become seriously endangered. Every time the shortcomings of the government are exposed , you become inhumanely infuriated and verbally abusive. If there are no constructive criticisms of the government, not much would change for the better. I’m sure growing up your parents chastised you when you erred. It was not because they disliked you but they wanted you to amend your wayward ways and habits. Don’t misconstrue my criticisms as hostility towards the government, view them as admonition to do better. Many of the times I could agree with you, but unfortunately , if I do, both of us would be wrong. You need to become more politically mature. Stop throwing these frequent juvenile tantrums and unhelpful personal attacks at your fellow citizens. Not because I don’t support your party makes me your enemy.
Padna, it is time we set some standards here. Outline your requests. IT is not just salary, but working conditions.
Mr. Letang, I realize that dealing with a recalcitrant leader is not easy. But the Union allows Mr. Skerrit to solely dictate the terms and conditions of work for the public servants. There’s no real bargaining done on behalf of these hapless workers. Instead of giving the workers a reasonable increase, the PM gives a few incentives and the Union submissively relents. Stop capitulating for pittance.
That;s what we get for allowing guys lacking in pedigree to be come leaders when they cannot even clean their bodies effectively let alone r becoming a headboy, go to a university when they don;t have what it takes, Ten we allow them to run a country LMAO & real loud,
As the old adage goes : We get the Gov’t we deserve a group of how many Ministers or AHs ur pick.