Junior Nurses say not ready to resume work

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 July '99

Junior nurses at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Monday refused to collect their extra duty allowances, saying the package is poor.

The nurses, who were supposed to collect their money at their departmental levels at 1400 hours on Monday, decided not to collect the money after meeting with their executives.

Mr Logosu Amegashie, spokesman for the nurses, said the health minister, Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor, told them at the their last meeting on July 16 that they were going to be paid 50 per cent across board for the seven months.

Mr Amegashie said what they are to receive now is far below what was promised. Therefore, they are not going back to work until it is revised.

"Each nurse is to receive a minimum of 400,000 cedis and a maximum of 900,000 cedis for the seven months.

"If this amount is computerised, it means each nurse is to receive 57,000 cedis a month."We will resume work as soon as it is revised."

The nurses, who numbered over 1,000 and were emotionally charged, said they had been cheated for far too long and the time had come for them to act.

At some of the hospital departments however, senior nurses and laboratory technicians collected their allowances.

Some nurses told the GNA that they are dissatisfied with the behaviour of their senior nurses because they expected them to support their action.

"This shows the kind of leaders we are working with," one of the nurses said.

When contacted, Mr Nuamah Donkor said they did not agree on any 50 per cent across board payment and explained that the nurses are definitely not going to receive the same money as the doctors.

He said doctors work more hours than nurses do and will, therefore, receive more than the nurses.