By Shermain Bique-Charles
Today is decision day for nurses across the country as the government faces imminent industrial action from members of the Antigua and Barbuda Nurses Association (ABNA).
In a letter to the Chief Establishment Officer, Franscia Sheppard, the ABNA said it is gravely concerned about the amount of time it is taking to complete negotiations between the government and the ABNA’s negotiating team.
This is causing increasing dissatisfaction among the members of the association, the ABNA said.
In the association’s view, further delays to an already long overdue negotiation cycle is a disadvantage to the socio-economic wellbeing of its members, and goes against the standards set out by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Further, the association said it must express its disappointment in the lack of communication to promote and foster good labour relations.
“ABNA wishes to remind the government that nurses and nursing personnel play a pivotal role in this country’s healthcare system and as such expect to be treated with dignity and respect,” it said in a letter sent to health officials.
The body is calling on the government to remedy the situation as soon as possible.
The nurses, according to the association, “have displayed much patience with the long drawn-out negotiation process and are considering actions to show the displeasure of the membership if there continues to be what we view as a disregard for the need and urgency in completing the negotiations in good faith”.
ABNA also put the government on notice that it intends to engage in industrial action until the talks are fully completed.
Some of the other areas of concern are the deplorable state of several government-run clinics, outstanding overtime and allowances pay, and the absence of crucial equipment.
ABNA will be convening an urgent meeting from 3pm today, at the union’s headquarters on Queen Elizabeth Highway.