Medical technologists, who have been off the job since last Thursday, vowed yesterday to continue their strike until their salary dispute is settled, and that they were prepared to face the consequences.

"Even if we are put in jail Government must settle the salary difference with us," said Leford Bennett, chief delegate for the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), which represents the workers.
The medical technologists, who on Friday defied a back-to-work order from the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, could today be served summons to appear before the court.

Health Minister John Junor said last Friday that summonses were being prepared and could be served on the medical technologists over the weekend. But Bennett said yesterday that they were not served with summonses to appear before the court.
"Our membership has resolved, at a meeting last Friday, to continue to stay off the job until when Government compensates us, when they settle the anomaly," Bennett told the Observer yesterday.

"We have also resolved that even if our leadership is put in jail the workers will stay on strike until the matter is settled. "If the court imposes a fine on us and we can't pay we will still be on strike, if we are sent to jail when we come back out we will still be on strike," he added.
Labour Minister Horace Dalley said last week that the strike by the medical technologists was in breach of the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act, and that they were liable to prosecution.

The labour minister noted that if the technologists were convicted in court they could be fined a maximum of $50,000, with an additional fine of $2,000 for each day the strike continued.
Medical technologists perform diagnostic laboratory tests including blood sample analysing and pap smears and are considered part of the essential health services.

The health ministry said last week it had put contingency plans in place to prevent a breakdown in emergency services as a result of ongoing industrial action by the medical technologists.
Dr Barry Wint, chief medical officer, said supervisory technicians were at work but they were dealing with emergency cases only, while private laboratories have been contacted to do routine services.

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