A call to Bajans at home and abroad
Submitted by Tee White
The attached recording, of a striking nurse phoning into Down to Brass Tacks, needs no explanation. This moving call speaks for itself. The issue is what we as Bajans are going to do about the situation. As the saying goes, evil triumphs when good people do nothing. We have a responsibility to take a stand in defence of the nurses and to condemn the government’s attempts to starve them into submission. We can raise our voices, especially in this election period, and demand that the government stop its attacks on them and sit down with their representatives to address their issues. We can also donate to their strike fund. Bank details are presented at the end of the transcript. We have a responsibility to the striking nurses. Let’s take it up.
For those of you who have or are not able to listen to the phone in call, a transcript is below.
Nurse: It was always said to us “It’s not the right time to strike. It’s not the right time to take action. Just wait. We’re going to talk and see what happens”. This has been years and nurses are now to the point, just fed up. It’s real hard every day you go to work. And the conditions you have to work in and you’re not seeing a salary at the end of the month. You’re overworked, overlooked and you’re still expected to come work with a smile on your face and work to the best of your ability.
I myself have gone more than four months without a salary. I have colleagues that have gone longer and it’s hard. You are at work. You owe the nursery, you owe the bank and no one wants to hear “oh I didn’t get my salary yet”. They’re still calling you expecting you to pay them. So I have all that stress from elsewhere on me. I’m still not receiving my salary.
Persons are saying that we’re only making noise about hazard pay. That is not the case. Nurses are not even receiving their regular salary and it’s hard. They’re saying even not only a basic salary, nurses have also gone on to be qualified, even if it’s a psychiatric nurse, a geriatric nurse, we go and specialise. You’re not even receiving the money that you’re supposed to get on your salary for these qualifications. There are nurses that have gone over ten years and have not got the increase on their salary.
And persons think this is fair. They’re saying it’s Covid times, things are going on. We shouldn’t be doing this. But look at it. Would you, yourself, go and work?
Would you continue to do that? There are times you don’t see ‘go to the bathroom’, you work through lunch, you work through break just to make sure that your patients are good. But you, yourself, your health is deteriorating. But no one is looking at you and it’s hard.
The prime minister came on and said she gave the nurses hazard pay. Persons were appointed. If there were 600 nurses and you appointed two, what happened to the other four? My thing is, the other four will still have problems and they said they gave hazard pay. To my knowledge, a lot of my colleagues have not
received hazard pay for the month of December either. Seen not a cent of this hazard pay.
And I go to work. Where I work, I have been spat on. I have been hit, cussed. I have went through it and it’s just frustrating and hard to hear persons saying that we don’t care and we still go to work in all these conditions and they’re saying we do not care. How could that be?
Phone in host: I’m really sorry to hear this call and all of the things that you have expressed. Tell me, what do you think is going to happen over the next few weeks while we are waiting for an election? Do you think you will get any resolution? Are you willing to go to the work in the interim?
Nurse: No and it was very interesting that she did not hear out the nurses and our problems before they even run and do that. That meeting that was supposed to be held was cancelled. You did not hear all our problems, and you are saying that this is a critical time in terms of health care, and you did not hear out the nurses that are on the front line. How dare you?
Nurses have families at home. There were many nurses that had not seen a salary for December, and they have families. When you were home having your meals, what were they doing and telling their children? But no we’re to come to work every day with a smile on our face.
They’re saying they didn’t have enough nurses, so they had to bring in nurses.
Ask them why they didn’t have enough nurses. Because persons from England are recruiting our nurses. Persons from the States are recruiting our nurses because we are really good nurses. So if they’re recruiting our nurses, the nurses, are leaving because you’re not treating us right. The nurses have no choice than to leave. It’s been years we have been asking. We have been asking to be heard we are not being heard. If someone else is recruiting us, why should we stay?
Phone in host: This is really difficult to listen to, not because anything that you said is wrong. But I can hear the pain in your voice. And I really do hope that something can come of this, because it is really important that we treat those on the front lines, our health care professionals much better. You are very important to us to our healthcare system, and you need to be treated properly. So I hope that you will get some kind of resolution. I hope it will be sooner rather than later. And I don’t know what is going to happen in these three weeks leading up to the election, but I hope that something is being put in place at the level of your union to assist those of you who are on strike. And I hope that you all are able to make a decision that benefits you in terms of whether you will remain on strike or go back to work. But thanks.
The strike fund of the nurses can be supported by making donations to:
Mia cares
Mia cares
Mia cares for Mark Maloney and the “white shadows”.
These nurses have a responsibility to the sick patients as well. I can’t really understand how the nurses’ association can be representing the MAJORITY of nurses who are not on strike and still in negotiations; but the splinter group led by a small union are on strike and asking for financial support from the general public. NO employer should pay workers who withhold their labour.
Sent from my iPhone
This is the point the blogmaster keeps harping. However, the plight of the nurses appears to have created an opportunity for the PM to trigger a Bigfoot move. We will have to wait to see the measure of its success m:
Like numerous other stories this one unfortunately will be drowned out by the cacophony of noise created by the coming political event.
BU IS A PLACE WHERE YOU COME TO MEET UNBALANCED MORONS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER WHO JUST TALK BECAUSE THEY HAVE A MOUTH
HERE THIS FOOL
These nurses have a responsibility to the sick patients as well.
DOES THEIR EMPLOYER NOT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY THEM AT LEAST MONTHLY AS AGREED WHEN THEY STARTED TO WORK?
WHY SHOULD A NURSE WORK UNPAID FOR FOUR MONTHS? OR AT ALL? WHY?
HAS THIS SUPER JACKASS EVER BEEN IN THE EMOTIONAL WRINGER OF HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARING OR MONITORING AN ACUTELY ILL PERSON? .
THAT THESE WOMEN HAVE LEFT THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME AND DONE THIS FOR FOUR MONTHS IS COMMENDABLE. VERY COMMENDABLE.
RE I can’t really understand how the nurses’ association can be representing the MAJORITY of nurses who are not on strike and still in negotiations;
CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ANYTHING AT ALL ?
IS IT NOT BECAUSE THE RECTAL MUCOSA IN YOUR CRANIUM WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR CEREBRAL ACTIVITY?
IT IS SLIMEY SCUM LIKE YOU THAT HAVE BROUGHT BARBADOS TO NOTHINGNESS
IT IS IDIOTS LIKE YOU WHY BRIDGETOWN BRIDGES ARE BROKEN DOWN, AND WHY THE DUCHESS OF YORK IS ENGAGING IN FUTILE CYCLES.
TALKING IS NOT WALKING
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
THIS HOW ONE MUST ALWAYS TREAT THEIR EMPLOYEES
THIS IS THE ONLY CORRECT WAY
These nurses have a responsibility to the sick patients as well. I can’t really understand how the nurses’ association can be representing the MAJORITY of nurses who are not on strike and still in negotiations
PRAY TELL IF MIA CARES AND HER OTHER MINISTERS ALONG WITH THE Consultants PLUS AMBASSADORS WITH THEIR BIG SALARIES DO THEY ALSO GO UNPAID FOR 4 MONTHS SOMETIMES LONGER LIKE THE UNDERPAID NURSES MOSTLY FEMALE.?
REASON I LIKE THE USA IS THIS ONGOING FOR YEARS WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN OR EVEN IN THE UK/CANADA.
THIS IS WHY I CALL THE 2X3 REPUBLIC A JOKE AND NO PARADISE FOR THE MAJORITY BLACK MASSES WHOSE BLACK LEADERS TREAT THEM WITH DISDAIN AND CONTEMPT EVEN WHEN ASKING FOR WHAT SHOULD BE THE NORM AND FAIRNESS.
WHO EVER SAID SLAVERY WAS OVER IN BARBADOS.
I am interested to know
1) Do these irregular payment patterns happen within other public payrolls?
2) Are nurses who are part of other bargaining units experiencing similar payment issues?
“NO employer should pay workers who withhold their labour”
What should workers do when their employer fails to pay on a timely pre-agreed format?
How long should they go without pay?
NO
IN 2012 I MET A YOUNG DR AT GLEBE POLYCLINIC WHO TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN PAID FOR THREE MONTHS. SHE ALSO SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT PAID FOR WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ALSO.
I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS PRACTICE STILL PERTAINS.
OF COURSE AS AN INTERN A YOUNG DR MIGHT PUT UP WITH SUCH NONSENSE, BECAUSE ONE MUST COMPLETE ON’E’S INTERNSHIP TO BE COMPLETELY REGISTERED.
No. I won’t work if I am not paid in full and on time. Nobody should. Seems to me the paymasters are slack.
I’ve had 5 employers and only once was I paid a week late. That employer notified me that the pay was going to be late. Funny this is that employer had the deepest pockets of the 5.
That said a nurse who shall remain nameless migrated to the great white north owing me several hundred dollars, and leaving no forwarding address. Nurse likely making a big fat salary now, while I am old and barely getting by. I haven’t moved and nurse still won’t send my money to me. Maybe nurse will donate that money to the strike fund instead. To tell the truth I won’t mind if that happens, but none ‘o wunna shouldn’t hold wunna breath.
Now I know why after all the training she got my cousin left for the USA. She went to Community College, then they sent her to Jamaica to do something (I think midwifery), when she returned, she was sent to England to to a BSc in nursing. She worked for maybe a year and took off to the US. In four months her husband and two children joined her. Now she is looking to come to Canada. The pay here is good for people like her with qualifications and experience. She can expect a starting salary between 90k to 100k. If she studies for an extra year and pass the provincial exam and becomes a Nurse Practitioner she will earn even more.
@ Abdul Shairf Dec 30 7:56pm
“These nurses have a responsibility to the sick patients as well.”
“NO employer should pay workers who withhold their labour.”
Nobody doubts that! Not even the Nurses!!
But, forgive me when I say, what an amazingly incredible short sighted half baked comment.
So, let me get this right; if I read between your lines correctly….
you believe that the moral & legal obligations placed on an employer toward their employees are irrelevant….. and Nurses with families, mortgages, bills, children, should suffer on the front-line of this country’s health care system – that will one day take care of YOU when you need their help? Right? And the day you need their help you will look them in the eye and say thank you for helping me when you can’t feed your children? Correct? And they should keep suffering for as long as it takes until someone has the integrity and testicular fortitude to grasp the nettle and deal with it? Yes? And be grateful they still have a job? Right? RIGHT??
Bare foolishness!!
You fail to understand the purpose of labour law, and the contractual bargain struck between employer and employee. Sir, this is not a spur of the moment decision by the Nurses. They did not wake up one day and suddenly decide to imperil their families with strike action. They had a right to strike many, many months ago! This strike is validly challenging the Employer to resolve legitimately held issues. It is a right that should be exercised in the face of continued unfair treatment. The Grievance process hasn’t worked.
You / we should be using our voices to support them. This country should have a free press to help the electorate hold the government to account. The government should have the moral fortitude to stand up and say when it’s wrong!!
Or am I living in a fantasy world? But I guess if you believed that your post would have been more balanced.
… and by the way… I doubt it’s the Nurses who are asking for financial support from the public!
@BAJE
Well said. How many times can you tell your creditors that you haven’t got paid. And to think that the government wants to institute a credit reporting system similar to the U.S. I still haven’t seen the reason/s for the nonpayment of salaries. Is it a technical issue like computers not working which is the lame excuse for everything? Did the nurses not complete their timesheets timely? Processing Staff shortages? NSF…not sufficient funds? Or just gross incompetence which is the standard in Bim?
All of the above, but mainly because that one person who can make a difference doesn’t give a shit.
One month may be an oversight, but two, three, four? No, that is incompetence or wickedness.
The worst part is, it is usually other women that are in charge of those things.
How many nurses are affected by inconsistency of pay?
Why has it been happening to some and not others?
Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland we need to hear your voice on this matter.
NO asked similar questions, we are missing information.
The blogmaster as hard as he tried could not find a recent article in traditional press about this impasse. If VOB did not make a decision to restart Brasstacks during its traditional Christmas break ….
This be the same Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, the management guru that getting 200 and somebody thousand dollars uh year to run the QEH. Wait, um still name suh?
I don’t think she is responsible for all nurses and from what little i understand; the problem is across the system..
@Raw Bake
This is so and she made a statement saying the strike does not impact the QEH, we need to hear more. Too many statements being made by all and sundry yet the public is none the wiser. She is an important stakeholder in the process.
Give yourself some credit for keeping it in the public’s eye.
Bajans are easily distracted. No wonder some talk to them as if they are little children. 🙂
@Raw Bake
Give the credit to Tee White and other contributors who make the time to highlight the issues.
🙂
I know um en dem blog, but if you seh so.
Dennis J gone and David E is busy with other duties so BU will have to be the last stand.
When I listened to that voice note tears came to my eyes. That somebody could listen to that and make a comment like the one made by Abdul is beyond my comprehension.
He made me cry…..AGAIN!
SHAME, SHAME on YOU, ABDUL! Are the nurses not HUMAN????
Here’s what I know about some nurses!
Once an elderly woman was taken off the streets of Barbados in a most FOUL condition, with creepy crawlies coming out of her nether regions.
The nurses on the ward, under the supervision of my mother, all joined in to lovingly bathe her and soothe her. Then they took their own money and MY MOTHER walked down to N.E. Wilson in her nurse’ s uniform and told them of her mission. They graciously granted her a big discount. My mother returned to the hospital and gave the cloth to a lady named Audrey Maynard in the “house-keeping” ( I forget the name) department.
That lady made nighties and gown for the woman for free.
By the time those people were finished, that woman was smelling and looking like a rose and being addressed by pet names.
We hear the bad stories. We seldom hear the good stories. There are many, many more good stories that I could tell.
But…..by the time my mother retired medically unfit, she was moaning daily about the deteriorating conditions of work at the QEH, not having what she needed to take care of “HER” patients and of DAILY CUSSINGS AND PHYSICAL THREATS from patients because of circumstances beyond her control. She left with a heavy heart and came home, BUT SHE NEVER STOPPED BEING A NURSE. She was often called upon to do duty in the community for free.
And she is not the only one. There are many others like her.
But the people of Barbados no longer recognise nurses or treat them with respect.
We hear the bad stories. We seldom hear the good stories.
Now go back and tell the nurses about their responsibities.
Me? I shall no longer be waiting for mean Mia to pay them. I owe them a thank you tip. They have served me well.
SMH!
I would like to shout out ALL the NURSES of the ST. PHILIP POLYCLINIC who gave me my COVID vaccinations.
They were pleasant, efficient and in the case of the “The Crazy One” Nurse Kim Rock, She who Jabs, VERY ENTERTAINING.
I did not feel a thing, TWICE ….but I sure heard a lot of hollers – fake hollers from HER!
A nurse who loves her work! Looking forward for my booster shot!
by the time my mother retired medically unfit, she was moaning daily about the deteriorating conditions of work at the QEH, not having what she needed to take care of “HER” patients and of DAILY CUSSINGS AND PHYSICAL THREATS from patients because of circumstances beyond her control. She left with a heavy heart and came home, BUT SHE NEVER STOPPED BEING A NURSE. She was often called upon to do duty in the community for free.
And she is not the only one. There are many others like her.
But the people of Barbados no longer recognise nurses or treat them with respect.
NURSES NEED TO LEAVE THE 2X3 ISLAND AND GO TO THE BIG COUNTRIES WHERE HIGH DEMAND SHORTAGES, THEY WILL MAKE 3 OR 4 TIMES THEIR BAJAN SALARIES AND WILL BE PAID ON TIME EVERY TWO WEEKS.
THEY WILL ALSO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.
IT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY SENSIBLE EDUCATED PEOPLE LEAVE THE 2X3 ONCE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.
WAY TOO MUCH CRAB IN THE BARREL AMONG LOCAL BLACKS AND. EASILY USED BY BLACK LEADERS FOR THEIR VOTES WHILST GIVING FAKE PROMISES AND SLOGANS SUCH AS “MIA CARES” AND “GIVE ME THE VOTE AND WATCH MUH”.
ONE OF THINGS EXPOSED WITH THIS SAGA IS THE REALITY ON THE 2X3 ISLAND FOR THE BLACK MASSES. WHO ARE USED AND ABUSED BY POLITICAL PARTIES FOR THEIR OWN SELF RICHES.
HAPPY I LIVE OVERSEAS AND KNOW THAT AS A PROFESSIONAL THERE IS A FAR BETTER LIFE WITH LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO MAKE THE EFFORT.
ON THE 2X3 ISLAND BLACK PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE EFFORT LIKE THE NURSES ARE STILL MADE TO SUCK SALT AND HOW DARE THEM TO SPEAK OUT AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
IT WILL NEVER BE A GOOD TIME TO SPEAK OUT.
HATE TO SAY IT THE 2X3 ISLAND IS DOOMED AS THE LEADERS DON’T HAVE A HEART FOR ITS OWN UNLESS THERE ARE THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES.
THESE ARE VERY DARK TIMES.
They need to go there and be treated like second class citizens sometimes. Beaten and harassed by police for walking and driving while black. Miney is important but it is not the be all and end all. For each negative you write about Barbados the blogmaster can list one for the US or UK.
The blogmaster remains disturbed why nurses who have NOT been paid for months will now be penalized for withholding labour -politics aside. There comes a time to Donnaâs point when one has to dispense with the games and politics being played and do the correct rh thing. Caswell it seems with the support of the aggrieved nurses decided to pull stumps, the blogmaster would have done it differently but sometimes for those being persecuted they are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if driven to the edge. it seems this is the point where the aggrieved nurses have reached.
On January 19th 2022, we will go to the polls and the Duopoly will be re-elected.
That’s the only call.
Deja vu
Peace
PS. No need to remind me that in 2022, in the USA they will vote for the Democrats or the Republicans.
RE They need to go there and be treated like second class citizens sometimes. Beaten and harassed by police for walking and driving while black. Miney is important but it is not the be all and end all. For each negative you write about Barbados the blogmaster can list one for the US or UK.
THIS IS BULLSHIT—CONCENTRATED BULLSHIT AND TOTALLY IRRELEVANT TO THE ISSUES RAISED AND A TOTAL UNBALANCED OPINION
MANY BAJANS ARE TREATED LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS AT HOME IN BARBADOS
THE SITUATION WITH THE NURSES IS A BLATANT EXAMPLE THAT CAN NOT BE DENIED
ALL BAJANS LOVE BIM
BUT MANY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO EMMIGRATE FOR MANY REASONS BESIDES MONEY
IN THE CURRENT IMPASSE, THE NURSES THAT HAVE STRIKED AND THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ARE BEING MISTREATED, POORLY PAID, AND PAID LATE, AND DISRESPECTED. AND TAKEN FOR GRANTED
THESE WOMEN HAVE REMAINED IN BIM BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE THERE, THEY WANT TO SERVE THERE, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THEY CAN GET MORE MONEY ABROAD. YET THEY ARE DISRESPECTED AND POORLY TREATED, AND FOLK CAN NOT EXPRESS THIER OPINION FREELY IN SUPPORT OF THESE WOMEN.
RE in 2022, in the USA they will vote for the Democrats or the Republicans.
ACTUALLY they will “””VOTE”” (i.e steal) vote for the Democrats, AS THE EMPIRE CONTINUES TO FAIL, FLAIL AND FALL.AS WE GO WITH BRANDON AND CACCALA
David,
Me too! My mother was called a racist name and spat upon in England. She jumped in the bed and thumped that white bitch. They had to pull her off. They all covered for her because she was their best worker.
I thank God she wasn’t there when they were turning away Windrushers with cancer.
She would have ended up in jail. NO JOKE!
But in this case, I would take a few years contract abroad. You cannot live not knowing when your next paycheck will appear.
@SS
I hear the lady who owes you is sending a Bond, cashable in 5 years.
While a high school student, in the public library , we were messing around a bit. A caucasian woman, married to a prominent white Barbadian , was in the check out line. She said that she wished Hitler was around to take care of all of us. Needless to say we were all black students.
2. While in my teens , I attended a football match at venue , owned by whites. There was some controversy. Some spectators went on the grounds. While we were walking off, I heard a white Barbadian say: We ( the blacks) cannot even govern ourselves farless understand the foot ball rules.
3. After Tom Adams won the government , I was in a fast food establishment’s car park. A group of young white Bajans, parked next to our car; and unprovoked said : It’s we f…..g time now.
Quite recently I had to publicly pull up a now deceased powerful white Barbadian who publicly insulted his Black Barbadian workers.
Now, I don’t really think anybody has to travel outside of Barbados or any Caribbean island to be exposed to racism. And I have friends and relatives who have experienced pure racism in the halls of our most prestigious public and private grammar schools.
I am trying hard here today to connect the dots but I can’t understand what all of theses incidents have to do with why our Black nurses working to serve predominantly black patients, cannot be paid on time and given proper working conditions by a Black government.
Every single night ten million senior citizens, go to sleep hungry in the USA. Every day three to five million children go hungry in the USA.
Now pray tell me what the frig that has to do with a senior citizen going to sleep hungry in any Caribbean island or a child going hungry anywhere in the Caribbean.
Imagine because people oppose nurses being treated horribly in their country, they are told that they should go to another country where their Black skins will most definitely make them victims of racism. That is the ignorant level to which we will sink to justify the exploitation of our own people , by our own government, in our own country.
And even if we find the language of others to be hostile or offensive, why should we , the ones who claim to be the purveyors of proper public discourse , be so easily provoked into replying with such pure stupidity.
BS.
I would support these nurses any day of the week with my eyes closed, i still remember the one who held my hand when i was in labor, and who rocked my new baby because i was too tired to even lift her after labor…..these ungrateful NIGAS in the parliament need a wake up call.
It seems the nurses in Barbados got blame for the Brother death , and now an opportunity arise to punish them
ALL the nurses who are uncomfortable, underpaid, under appreciated and disrespected should LEAVE for greener pastures where they are sure to succeed, let the ungrateful government import nurses from Cuba and Ghana because the first time those nurses are not paid their governments will PULL THEM and leave the demons SCRAMBLING and WITH BAD REPUTATIONS…
“MANY BAJANS ARE TREATED LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS AT HOME IN BARBADOS.”
the Afrikan descended population is ALWAYS treated like 2nd class citizens by criminal minorities and the TRASH IN THE PARLIAMENT…i have not known a time that this was any different…..did William not say he had to “PULL UP” the deceased cow for denigrating his Black workers who made that trailer park litter……the liar claimed that Black people came to him as Slaves when he was the one ROBBING THEM FOR DECADES…
It seems the nurses were blame for the brother death, and now an opportunity arise to further punish nurses
David
Earlier it was reported some teachers were not paid for a few months
They need to go there and be treated like second class citizens sometimes. Beaten and harassed by police for walking and driving while black. Miney is important but it is not the be all and end all. For each negative you write about Barbados the blogmaster can list one for the US or UK.
Xxxxxxxxx
DON’T KNOW WHAT BULLSHIT YOU ARE WRITING IF SPEAKING TRUTH IS NEGATIVE MASSA BRAINWASHING DAYS AREN’T DONE.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN BEATEN OR HARASSED BY POLICE WHILST OVERSEAS SO HAS MILLIONS OF OTHERS.
WE CAN AGREE HAPPENS ALSO ON THE 2X3 ISLAND WHERE BLACKS ARE BEATEN BY THEIR OWN BLACK POLICE AND IN CASES MURDERED IN CUSTODY WITH IMPUNITY.
THE REALITY IS IN A BLACK COUNTRY BLACK MASSES ARE SUFFERING IN SILENCE WE CAN VIEW THE REAL MENTAL SLAVERY RESPONSES WHEN PEOPLE RESPOND WITH FACTS SO YOU ARE FREE TO RESPOND AS YOU CARE TO.
I over and away. All my immediate family here with me. My mother was a nurse here. I sympathise with the nurses now on strike and will support Caswell and the nurses.
“The blogmaster remains disturbed why nurses who have NOT been paid for months will now be penalized for withholding labour”
Especially in a season of hope and humanity. The worst part is that the elections will further prolong the agony since as Caswell correctly pointed out, Ministers want to get involved in everything. let us wait and see if they will be penalised again in January.
Why are the nurses stringing about late payments when they were paid up until this month?
Strike should have been when the payment were 1 2 3 + months late
Sick out when pay was/is could have been used effectively to get the message across and still get paid
WUNNA LISTENING TO BRASSTACKS ?
So…
Let we get this straight.
The PM calls an election and the nurses have to continue sucking salt until she feels like addressing their grievances?
So…
This fight is between Mia and Caswell and it ain’t got anything to do with we?
So…
Wunna could protest and march up and down against mandatory vaccines and fuh BLM, but the nurses plight ain’t got nutton to do wid wunna?
Caswell just said the problem has its genesis in the civil service and when escalated to the minis and politicians they did nothing. Why would civil servants be so indenting the first place? Perhaps William can assist because we know him to be a big fan.
@ David,
There was a time when Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries were competent and managed the civil service.
Some people have been saying for years that politicians don’t have a clue about how things operate in the “service”.
Very few of them have an idea about anything that wasn’t given to them by a “civil servant”
@Raw Bake
If such is the case why is Caswell blaming civil servants?
I told you guys days ago that the problems ars administrative. The beauty salon is like a rumshop. You can get all information there.
I heard it from a retired civil servant who used to do the same job of ensuring that staff is paid.
But….the powers that be are aware and do nothing to solve the problems.
The problem often has to do with those who are not appointed or who are “temporary” and need a regular authorisation for payment to be forwarded. These authorisations are often left undone. Also, salaries and wages budgets are prepared for the estimates according to current staff numbers. If additional staff is hired then a supplementary must be sought in Parliament. Late submissions from the Ministry result in late salaries and wages.
Correction : The Estimates
John 2,
All nurses have not been paid. Those that have been paid are supporting their fellow union members as union members are supposed to do.
Raw bakes
Some of the nurses
The majority of the nurses on the job and getting their problems address by Duffey avenues
Different
@Hants… it’s who you know know, not what you bring to the table. Look at the health and wellness ministry…the permanent secretary has neither education nor experience in public health.
@BAJE
Your comments are spot on. I live in the U.S. forty years plus and I have not experienced any personal violence. I have had some racist comments thrown at me but I live a productive and satisfying life here. I am now happily retired with an MPH and cannot understand why our nurses are treated so poorly. I spend winters in Bim and sometimes I’m ashamed of bajans behavior in general. Smh.
@John2
The majority of the striking members in Caswell union appears to be ones employed by the health entities excluding the QEH. The blogmaster mentioned QEH is an SOE the other health agencies are paid by central government.
Donna
I taking ur word
I was going by the fact that the striking nurses reported the money was withdrawn from the bank accounts
David,
Re:
If such is the case why is Caswell blaming civil servants?
How you mean?
Is Caswell blaming civil servants or politicians?
I said that politicians don’t usually have a clue and it is civil servants who really run the show.
Who should he blame?
Is he not on record saying that politicians should not be involved in the day to day running of the service?
He said the problem is caused public servants and although ministers are aware of the problem they have done nothing about it over the years.
The outspoken Senator is public enemy number 1.
Time to finally dissolve the Senate and crush the insurrection as we did in 1937.
@Tron
Isn’t your public enemy #1 giving rationale for changes in “the service”, that body you constantly wish to cut?
Just don’t touch Customs!!
https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/11/12/teacher-long-delay-in-getting-paid-the-norm-ministry-assures-solution-on-the-way/#:~:text=President%20of%20the%20Barbados%20Union%20of%20Teachers%20%28BUT%29,try%20to%20get%20to%20the%20bottom%20of%20it.
“There was a time when Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries were competent and managed the civil service.
As it should be! The past three years has seen interference far beyond the “typical” interference
Observing
@Observing
It goes beyond the last three years. You may recall Caswell blogged many times in this space about the strategy of the last government to appoint acting PSs. The lack of permanence made it difficult for them to execute tasks with confidence.
the government can make it personal, but they are the ones LOOKING VERY STUPID, neglectful, UNPROFESSIONAL and hateful ACROSS CONTINENTS…not Caswell and NOT THE NURSES…
@DAvid
Agreed. Hence my disclaimer that it was “beyond the typical”
EVERY government has its nuances, friends and favours but ANYONE in the public service can tell you that the “cronyistic, arrogant, I am in charge, shut up” attitude and conduct over the last three years in particular has been off the charts in virtually EVERY department.
At least hte last bunch was just incompetent in some (or most) areas. This bunch adds much more to it and dangerously so.
Caswell is right. Ministers and the politicians should just et the civil servants do their job.
Observing…it is called empowerment. The descriptors are important.
@ David
The last time I checked , we elect governments to govern. I don’t know of any civil servant who had the power of the cabinet in any Westminister styled government. You can go to any NCC project and find workers sent by the Duopoly doing crap. But, none of them sit in a cabinet room and make decisions. You and the other apologists can spin however wunnuh like but right now the nurses have not been paid; their conditions are horrible and it’s the governments’ responsibility to clean up the mess. When you hear about some lowly placed civil servants or NCC or NHC workers sitting in a cabinet room, kindly inform the blog.
You now calling me “ a big fan of Caswell”. In each of my comments , I have been careful to preface them by saying : “ Caswell is not beyond repute.”
Who the hell call elections; who went to the President.? Oh, I forgot some civil servant? Who will reopen or not reopen the schools , didn’t you hear : Some NCC / NHC worker.
Run the frigging country . Stop looking for blasted and scapegoats . Pay the hard working nurses; give them the equipment and make sure they have everything to treat poor predominantly Black people who need proper health services.
As usual let me add: In the USA one also has to spend a few hours in the A&E
, regardless of if you have insurance or not..It apparently depends on the nature of your visit.
Run the frigging country stop making apologies for BS.
Peace.
David
Donna
Thanks
I think I understand it now
How will we get back to the table?
The problem begins with civil servants but it ends with the politicians. It cannot be that a minister or prime minister cannot ensure that the staff in their ministries are paid on time.
John 2,
Central government has more red tape than SOEs. Therefore everything moves more slowly. But there are very temporary workers at the QEH with late payment problems as well. Don’t know about nurses but other staff.
John 2,
I wish I knew how to get back to the table. I would hate for the nurses to have to slink back in humbled.
I hope somebody can move the immovable PM.
According to Caswell, his nurse membership continues to grow, if this is the case the government will have no choice but to negotiate/fix some of the problems. It should say a lot to the powers that be that nurses who have not been paid for months support the strike action even at this time.
ON ONE OF MY EARLY EXPERIENCES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE IN 81
AFTER INTERNSHIP I STARTED TO WORK AS ASSISTANT MOH AT A HEALTH CENTER
ONE MORNING MY HEAD NURSE CAME TO ME IN DISTRESS
THEY HAD TRANSFERRED “THE MAID”
THIS MAID WAS ALWAYS EARLY, VERY COMPETENT IN DOING WHAT HER DUTIES WERE AND SO KEEN THAT SHE ASSISTED THE RECORDS CLERK IN FINDING THE NOTES AND IN PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK OF THE CLINIC AS REQUIRED
SISTER WAS UNDERSTANDABLY DISTRAUGHT AND VERY UPSET
BEING VERY NAIVE IN THINKING THAT EFFICIENCY WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I PICKED UP THE PHONE AND CALLED THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AND TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THE OFFICIAL TO WHOM I WAS DIRECTED THAT THE VALUE OF THE TRANSFERRED MAID TO THE HEALTH CENTRE
HIS ANSWER WAS “DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT ANY OFFICER IS SUBJECT TO TRANSFER?
SO WE GOT A JOKER FROM THE CONSTITUENCY, WHO WAS HOPELESS IN DOING EVEN BASIC MAID DUTIES
THE OLD MAID LEFT AND WENT TO WORK AT EUSTON MAYNARDS NEW OFFICE IN GREEN HILL AND INSTITUTED MOST INGENIOUS WATY OF KEEPING HIS NOTES IN A SERIES OF EXERCISE BOOKS.
THAT IS HOW A FEW MORONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE RENDERED IT INEPT WITH THIS SORT OF IGNORANCE.
You will find no one that would support an employer paying their employees late or having them working in less than ideal conditions. I have heard more than a few people who work in the public sector that complain about this. So the nurses will always get sympathy. However I am divorcing it from how Caswell has maneuvered himself as union leader thus far in what I call an obzocky strike action. I am convinced that Caswell is MORE interested in “sticking it to govt” than getting what the nurses want. In other words he is using the nurses plight as a proxy to promote his union if not himself. This is why the general public is more in support of the nurses than to Caswell’s union
Workers unions in general are established to counter the power an employer has over employees. If the workers have a grievance they resort to the union to help their cause. Usually the first act will not be the union calling a strike. Employees themselves MAY engage in a wildcat strike, (as the nurses have essentially done with UWU support), then the union would step in to help “rationalize” the wildcat strike action by giving the employer a list of grievances to be resolved \ negotiated on. The union in good faith to the employer would instruct workers to restart work to let the negotiations occur. If the grievances haven’t been resolved the union would then give an ultimatum after which they would start industrial action.
I have not seen anything in the mass media that Caswell has done this thus far. He is essentially endorsing the wildcat strike and then wants govt to come to him\his union to resolve the wildcat strike. The govt REACTION is resorting to strong arm tactics against the nurses directly to which Caswell, not being a nurse does not directly feel. This is a basically a two wrongs not making a right situation. If Caswell wants more support for his union he should AT LEAST follow basic dispute resolution practices involving workers unions
You will find no one that would support an employer paying their employees late or having them working in less than ideal conditions. I have heard more than a few people who work in the public sector that complain about this. So the nurses will always get sympathy. However I am divorcing it from how Caswell has maneuvered himself as union leader thus far in what I call an obzocky strike action. I am convinced that Caswell is MORE interested in “sticking it to govt” than getting what the nurses want. In other words he is using the nurses plight as a proxy to promote his union if not himself. This is why the general public is more in support of the nurses than to Caswell’s union
Xxxxxxxxc
TYPICAL MINDSET OF A POLITICAL PARTISAN ALWAYS BLAMING SOMEONE TO ABSOLVE FROM THE REALITY.
TOO MANY BLACK PEOPLE ARE THEIR OWN PEOPLE WORSE ENEMIES.
Looks like everyone forgot the virus,, well it morphed, say hi to flurona and hope they keep it in israel.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/virus-panic-first-case-of-flurona-covid-and-flu-merge-to-form-horror-double-infection/ar-AASjBdH?ocid=msedgntp
The issue under discussion is not Caswell’s motive but the nurses’ grievances.
Source: Nation
My one comment…
When you’re not paid for an extended period of time the choice between striking and not being paid and of working, incurring additional expenses and not being paid may not be that difficult.
It is easy for others to say that you should go to work though you are not being paid and ignore the fact that you may lack the money to travel or to feed your family. Walk a mile in my shoes.
Happy 2022 BUers
If the government owes the nurses outstanding payments then it should seek to pay them their up to date dues before they expect them to return to the table
Nurses returning to work is up to the individual. If I had money in the bank and could stick it out ..,,,,,,,
On the other hand if my account was low and I had a family to look after ……
I would probably return to work or seek employment elsewhere if I could
Still of the view that nurses should be essential service and not allowed to strike but accept that this is not so in bim and it their legal rights
@ John2 who wrote ” nurses should be essential service and not allowed to strike ”
Great idea as long they are paid on time every time.
Making people work with pay is slavery.
Making people work WITHOUT pay is slavery.
https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/nurses-get-nod-for-hard-work/article_988ff94a-6a9a-11ec-9aa9-d72f965a2015.html
Dis nurse ting got me vex.
All uh wunna need to understan that the day may come when your donkey needs to be wiped and you need to be moved to prevent bed sores.
How many persons heard Caswell share the story about broke nurses delaying the report of a dead person on the ward in order to eat their meals?
Pay is also ESSENTIAL to the nurses.
Hants,
Dis nurse ting got me vex too.
@ David,
I heard it and believe it.
@Hants
It was a very poignant moment that nurses would be forced to resort to such an undignified act.
@David January 1, 2022 10:00 AM “How many persons heard Caswell share the story about broke nurses delaying the report of a dead person on the ward in order to eat their meals?”
I didn’t hear it.
I didn’t hear it either.
Did the dead person become more dead.
Was the report delayed for weeks.
Emotional nonsense thrown to the fishes. A few will grab hook, line and sinker.
@TheOGazerts January 1, 2022 9:25 AM “It is easy for others to say that you should go to work though you are not being paid.”
NOBODY should EVER go to work without being paid. If the employer has contracted to pay you every week fortnight, month, and the pay is not in your account you should NOT go to work.
There is a saying “nice girls [and guys too] finish LAST.
When I was a child our neighbor was a person who had suffered a traumatic brain injury as a child, and it had halted their intellectual development, but even that neighbor knew and often said “a promise is comfort to a fool”
Nurses need to stop being foolish. They need to stop accepting promises. They need to demand their cash, on time, each time, every time.
And the civil service and the political administration whether B or D need to put systems in place to ensure that it can be done, instead of proffering stupid excuses.
Haunts
No one was forced to work
And the pay for the is delayed
If I go by what you said then they were many white people in the great USA that were slaves under Obama and trump
@ David
That’s a good tactic by those nurses. Their are in their rights and no one can touch their money
@Hants,
You mentioned the big ‘s’ word. Thought of using it constantly during the discussion, but refrain from doing so.
Given the timidity of my fellow Bajans, they fear of rocking the boat and the strong desire to keep their heads below the parapet the pain had to be so intense they stopped suppressing their cries for relief.
@ David,
50 years ago I was hospitalized in Barbados after a crash. Unconcious and had an operation to fix a broken leg.
50 years later I still remember the empathy and professionalism of the nurses.
@Hants
You know how it is, some are inherently selfish and unable to appreciate what people do until they have to be supported by them.
TODAY IT IS THE NURSES
TOMORROW IT WILL BE…………………WHO? THE POLICEMEN? THE FIRE OFFICERS? THE POSTAL OFFICERS? WHO?
JUST WATCH.
MAN’S (a woman’s…not really sure wuh she is) iINHUMANITY TO MAN
OR IS IT IN THIS CASE (a woman’s…not really sure wuh she is) NHUMANITY TO WOMAN
YOU CANT SAY THAT PIECE DID NOT WARN YOU
NURSES ARE OF COURSE VERY IMPORTANT FOR PATIENT CARE.
NURSES ARE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT FOR DOCTOR CARE IN TEACHING AND SUPPORT. WITHOUT GOOD NURSING CARE EVEN THE WORK OF THE BEST DOCTORS CAN EASILY BE QUICKLY UNDONE
LONG BEFORE I QUALIFIED, I READ IN THE FRONTISPIECE OF ONE OF MY TEXTBOOKS, AND LATER FOLLOWED THE EDICT BELOW
“”NEGLECT THE ADVICE OF THE SENIOR NURSE TO YOUR PERIL””
ALL HONEST DOCTORS WILL CONFESS THAT THEY LEARNED MUCH OF THEIR OBSTETRIC SKILLS IN THE LABOUR WARD FROM THE MIDWIVES
I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL NOT GET BETTER ANTENATAL, POST NATAL, AND EARLY CHILD HEALTH CARE IN BARBADOS AS WHAT WAS DELIVERED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES WITH WHOM I WORKED ( i hope that those standards are still maintained)
SPECIAL PRAISE TO STEPHANIE BRYAN, WHO ON MY FIRST NIGHT ON DUTY– WHEN ALL ALONE, I WAS FACED WITH THE OPTION OF HAVING TO DO A SUPRAPUBIC STAB ON A MAN WITH URINARY RETENTION, FOR THE FIRST TIME- ADVISED ME TO OBTAIN A URETHRAL SOUND FROM THEATRE , INSERT IT IN TO THE FOLLEY’S CATHETER, IN THE HOPE THAT THIS WOULD FACILITATE THE PASSAGE OF THE CATETHER . IT WORKED! I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN HER OR THAT INCIDENT
WE MUST ALL SUPPORT THE NURSES
THEY HAVE GONE FAR ABOVE THE CALL OF DUTY——AS THEY USUALLY DO.
@David January 1, 2022 10:00 AM
@Cuhdear Bajan
How many persons heard Caswell share the story about broke nurses delaying the report of a dead person on the ward in order to eat their meals?
I heard it and I knew it was 100% true because I personally know people who had no choice but to do it on several occasions because they had not eaten in days.
When I first heard about it happening, I got this awful image of a nurse eating patient leftovers which was wrong so I will explain how it works for the uninitiated. We all know the hospital will have patients at death’s door that do not eat or died before their meal for that day came. That meal will normally be returned to the kitchen untouched and be thrown away. They are only eating the untouched plate food that would normally go in the garbage, not stealing food from patients or eating patient leftovers.
It is a common thing in the hospital where patients accustomed to eating larger portion sizes at home will eat the food of other patients too sick to touch their food. I always found it funny when I visited my grandparents during lunchtime visiting hours and they would eat their food and their neighbor’s food but nurses being forced to do it to keep from starving is definitely not funny.
@GP January 1, 2022 11:37 AM
You are so correct. Whenever it comes to patient care and prognosis. Talk to the doctor when you want to hear hope. Talk to the nurse when you want to hear the truth.
Getting paid is essential to all workers not just the nurses but also those like the teachers etc.
I am all for everyone getting paid (on time) it iOS more than essential especial for those living check to check
There are other tactics that can be used beside striking – and would allow no deduction from pay.
The teachers union used the “ meetings”with their union representatives under the dlp. ——- No essential
The air controllers of jfk used a strategic (minor) sickout with whispers of a bigger one at another more important date to get trump and his team to come around ———essential service
Off duty picketing ( I think that was GAI under DLP)
Right now we are at lost- lost
How can we get to win – win
Ps.
The above examples are for if nurses were essential services but could have also been used in this case ( again – it is legaal and the nurses right to strike )
I thought the nurses at the hospital were being paid on time . No???
Yes they are even the few who are “sicking out” in support.
@John2 January 1, 2022 12:21 PM
No, some nurses in the hospital are not paid every month. I have no idea how many are affected but it is definitely not zero.
The problem applies to all medical facilities under the government umbrella whether managed by Central government or SOE.
@ CA
The issue of nurses not being paid at the QEH is not a systematic issue to compare with the non SEO health institutions.
Here we go
When I first read the report I thought it was the nurses just refusing to work through the lunch (hr)
As it reported and I can see it happening that often the nurses work through their breaks
@David January 1, 2022 12:50 PM
Maybe it is not affecting as many nurses at the QEH as in the other non SOE but the issue happens at the QEH. Everyone things systematic issues are not systematic until people sit down and count the number affected, duration and frequency of the issues.
The only mistake Caswell made was in not publishing his own official press release. The public knowing how many nurses are paid sporadically, how many months pay is outstanding and how many times over the last year or two they have not been paid does not compromise union negotiations nor membership privacy but it does make the public aware how systemic the problem is.
Source: Barbados Today
I have all respect for Caswell. Don’t always agree. Sometimes he is dead wrong but, respect due.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
“Heaven help us all” – Luciano
‘Just observing
These issues should have been solved long ago but when you have issue of politics in unions, in HR departments, in government institutions and overall lack of focus on the real issues we get this type of result. I don’t believe anyone should have to wait three months to get a salary or wage for work already done. We have person’s hired at high levels who get paid quite quick for work that’s not done or done to standard. It’s all about uncaring people who get promote to high positions by means other than good overall performance. and implement uncaring policies.