– GPSU laments inadequate consultation
HEALTHCARE workers are grateful for the year-end bonus announced recently by President Irfaan Ali, but highlighted that they are not wholly satisfied with only two-week’s worth.
“I’m happy that at least he is giving something but I think a month tax-free would have been better,” highlighted Jeanel Lewis, a nurse with the Cardiology Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Lewis explained that though she is working in an at-risk environment and interacting with many persons who may be infected with the COVID-19 virus, she is not benefitting from the risk-allowance.
“Healthcare professionals will get two weeks equivalent bonus pay before the end of the year,” President Ali said, during his remarks at a ceremony to initiate the retrofitting of the Leonora Diagnostic Hospital, on Thursday. This bonus, he explained, will be for all health workers who, in this case, will be classified as frontline workers.
Another concern raised by Lewis was what measures or relief will be put in place in the New Year to recognise and encourage the healthcare workers who will have to continue working amidst a pandemic.
Since March of this year, healthcare workers in Guyana have been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The government, in the recent 2020 Emergency Budget, allocated some $150 million for frontline health workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, amidst their calls for an equitable working wage, as well as a risk allowance for the ‘extraordinary’ job they have been doing on a daily basis.
Cardiac sonographer, Ramona Chanderballi also said, “I was surprised that we are getting a bonus but it’s very welcomed.”
Chanderballi, who works in medical imaging, was also elated that the President acknowledged that all healthcare workers are frontline workers.
“He’s probably one of the few Heads of States to have done that and reward all healthcare workers across the board since the pandemic started,” she emphasised.
A few other healthcare workers indicated their pleasure for this as well. Another nurse with the GPHC, Ishaku Zechriah, told the Department of Information (DPI), “I think it is encouraging, particularly [since] there has been multiple agitation to compensate for the increased workload and risks associated with the pandemic. I think the President’s response is appropriate.”
Employee Assistant Officer at the GPHC, Lancelyn Lawrence, said, “I’m happy to know that the President is thinking about the healthcare workers.”
Others expressed stronger dissatisfaction. One nurse in Linden, who wished to remain anonymous, indicated that she was not satisfied with the “one-time” payment and called for a risk-allowance to be paid. She simply described this bonus as “not good enough”.
INADEQUATE CONSULTATION
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), on the other hand, labelled the President’s announcement of the bonus as “arbitrary”, given that the decision was made without the full input of the union.
In September, many healthcare workers staged protests in order to be reclassified as frontline workers and to receive compensation and benefits due to the service they were providing amidst the pandemic.
The GPSU and the government have been negotiating these concerns, but no definitive, mutually agreed upon decision has been reported as yet.
Through a statement issued to the media, the GPSU highlighted the challenges the workers have been facing since March and noted that the pandemic has implications which will continue for a while. This, the GPSU reasoned, means that the risk faced by workers will endure for some time.
“Mr. President, your considered reward of a one off two weeks’ pay for these workers is disheartening under these circumstances,” the statement read, and highlighted that a bonus is no substitute for a risk allowance. Moreover, the GPSU said that the bonus provided should have been at least one month’s tax free salary.