KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Enrolled assistant nurses have been lauded by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning with responsibility for the Public Service Horace Dalley for being the first group in the health sector to sign the wage deal for the contract period 2015-2017.

“We appreciate this move that you have made. We will not forget this act of patriotism that you are exercising,” Dalley said.

He was speaking at the signing of the Heads of Agreement, at the Finance and Planning Ministry, in Kingston, yesterday.

The group has accepted the seven per cent offered by the Government for the contract period. This follows the acceptance of the same amount by public sector workers recently.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson explained that the Government offered the best it could at this time.

“I believe that we must recognise the groups that in this difficult time have come to the table with us,” he said, adding that the enrolled assistant nurses should be commended.  

Dr Ferguson said he is hopeful that agreements will be reached with the Nurses Association of Jamaica and other groups within the health sector, in short order.

Meanwhile, President of the Jamaica Enrolled Assistant Nurses’ Association Josephine Hutchinson-Bedward said the decision to accept the seven per cent was a sacrifice for the country.

“I hope the sacrifice we are making will not just be a sacrifice on our part, but that the Government and other persons in Jamaica will see that we are willing to work with, and for them,” she said.

Hutchinson-Bedward also used the opportunity to thank the enrolled assistant nurses for the hard work they have been doing in the health sector.