Public Service Association president Watson Duke issued an ultimatum to the Chief Executive Officer of the North Central Regional Health Authority Davlin Thomas Friday, but a potential walkout by the workers was quelled following a meeting between the two men.
However, before the meeting, Duke had called for outstanding wage negotiations for the year 2015, 2016 and 2017 to be settled by 1 pm Friday.
“Pay the arrears for 15, 16 and 17 now. Two, give us a date when all workers will be made permanent who have satisfied two years or more. Three, give us a bonus. I feel a good bonus is $3,000 across the board," said Duke, who called for the bonuses after hearing complaints from workers who had taken extra shifts due to recent staff shortages during a meeting near the Main Entrance of the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, Mt Hope.
He added, "We are giving the CEO 1 o'clock, 1 pm. He had the entire year to fix this. One pm he has now to put us in that place of comfort and that place of financial ease. If not, then we will have to get up, leave the jobs and as the youth will say go and look for it."
That meeting was moved from directly in front of the Mt Hope Hospital main entrance after police officers stated media cameras would break the data protection act should they film Duke while he was speaking to workers there.
Duke briefly argued that the media would only be filming the PSA members gathered but ultimately agreed to move the meeting a short distance away from the entrance.
Following the meeting, which finished at around 11.20 am, Duke and the group of workers walked across to the CEO's office.
Before leading the workers across, Duke again said should they fail to receive a favourable response the workers would take a shopping day immediately.
Speaking hours after the meeting, the NCRHA chairman said Duke was updated on the situation.
"The president of PSA found our approach and progress to be reasonable," said Thomas, in a text response to the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian later Friday.
Attempts to reach Duke for comment following the meeting were unsuccessful.