Having been advised that the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) has gone on record to forecast a withdrawal of services after a negotiation meeting held last Friday was “not productive”, the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) said they have continued to negotiate in good faith with the CPSA, offering significant improvements in existing benefits.
“Further, the PHA is satisfied in the fact that it has done everything on its part to move negotiations forward, while also addressing specific concerns levelled by the CPSA regarding working conditions at our institutions,” outlined a statement released Tuesday night by the PHA.
“The Authority has given significant attention to the needs of all of its locations and has developed capital plans for each.
“Over the past several months, significant improvements to PMH facilities have been underway, including major roof repairs, interim remediation of the AC system within the Operating Theatres – which has been fully functional over past two months with no issues, and a major infrastructural and equipment overhaul of the Radiology Department.”
The PHA said having received and reviewed the CPSA’s proposal, the PHA has offered to establish a number of consultative committees to improve the dialogue between the parties, provided significant improvement in existing benefits to the CPSA, inclusive of medical insurance, subsidized mobile telephony, a doctors’ lounge, payment of casual mileage, access to a defined benefit contribution plan, and a pay package over the five-year period of this proposed agreement that would result in a 16.5 per cent increase in base pay compensation for the CPSA members, improving their hourly base pay to an amount in excess of $56.00 per hour, which, the PHA said, is more than double the hourly base rate paid to junior doctors.
“Despite these generous offers, the CPSA chose to walk away from the bargaining table,” the PHA statement read.
The PHA further advised that in the event of a withdrawal of services by members of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association, they will take all necessary proactive measures to limit the impact on services rendered at its institutions.
“It is the Authority’s hope that continued discussions would prove fruitful, and pave the way for future collaboration in the best interest of our clients and their loved ones” the PHA said.
Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) President Dr. Locksley Munroe indicated this week that physicians could withdraw their services before the holidays. The association plans to advise the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) of its intentions during a meeting on Friday, according to Munroe, who said the association’s lawyer will be present at that meeting.
