Pinder: Nurses should be adequately paid and demands met

Pinder: Nurses should be adequately paid and demands met
Amancha Williams, Bahamas Nurses Union(BNU) President led a protest earlier this year over outstanding overtime payments and other issues. (file photo)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- With nurses being scare worldwide and Bahamian nurses opting to move overseas just to make ends meet, Director of Labour John Pinder on Tuesday expressed that nurses should be adequately paid and their minor demands should be met.

Pinder noted, however, that he doesn’t believe that the government would ever be able to pay public servants the salaries they deserve.  Despite this, Pinder said the Department is trying to budget as best as they can and are working diligently to solve the issues of the nurses’ and other unions.

“I think the bone of contention with the Nurses Union and the Public Hospitals Authority was not having this new shift system introduced. To my knowledge, the union has put their strike on hold until the PHA has catered to this matter,” Pinder said.

The Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU)is now in possession of its strike certificate.

BNU President Amancha Williams told Eyewitness News Online that they have been making attempts to get this certificate since 2016, and she will continue to defend the rights of nurses.

“It’s about what is owed to the nurses,” Williams said.

“We understand we have only one treasury and that there is a budget that has to be met, but we are the nation builders.”

The nurse’s Union President said they have not placed their plans to strike on hold but are presently in the planning period and they will use their strike certificate when it’s time.

As with any other union, the Nurses Union hopes to have their matters resolved before the Christmas holidays.