WESTERN BUREAU — More than 150 placard-bearing porters and janitors employed to Milestone Environmental Limited on Tuesday used their lunch hour to protest against the low wages being paid to them.

But the workers, who demonstrated at the main gate of the Cornwall Regional Hospital where they work, did not prevent the flow of visitors and other employees.

“Wi tired of the low wages, wi have wi family to look after,” one of the protestors remarked.

She said that most of the workers have been going home with as little as $3,500 per fortnight and with the high cost of living, they are desperately in need of an increase.

“The workers have gotten fed-up with the attitude of their employers, which is Milestone Environmental Limited,” National Workers Union (NWU) representative, Herbie Morris, told the Observer.

“What has happened is that since we have gained bargaining rights for the workers, we have served a 19-point claim on their behalf; and each time we meet to negotiate, all the company is saying is ‘no offer’,” Morris added.

He said the union is requesting wages, for the workers they represent, which are in line with those being paid to their counterparts at other health institutions.

“But Milestone is yet to respond,” Morris charged.

Late Tuesday, Milestone’s managing director, Fredrick Sutherland maintained that his company could not afford to increase the workers’ wages.

“We understand the plight of the workers but we cannot hike the wages unless we get an increase from the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA),” Sutherland said then.

Milestone was contracted by the WRHA, more than two years ago, to provide porter and janitorial services at CRH.

Just over a year ago, the company renewed its contract with the hospital. It is expected to expire next July.

Sutherland said the existing contract with the WRHA is not profitable and pointed out that more than 80 per cent of the funds derived from the contract is used to pay wages and purchase supplies.

“This does not include administrative and other costs,” he added.

According to Sutherland, as soon as his company receives an increase from the WRHA, this would be passed on to the workers.

In the meantime, the disgruntled workers have maintained that if they do not receive an increase in wages soon, they will regroup and plan other strategies to highlight their plight.