SEVERAL government-paid medical technologists on Monday, during the 12 to 1:00 pm lunch hour, put down their test tubes and took up placards as they protested against their union’s refusal to sign a new wage agreement.

Monday’s protest, one medical technologist told the Jamaica Observer, was to appeal to the conscience of the union, in particular chief delegate Franklyn Whyte whom they claim is the person blocking the signing of the new wage agreement.

“I am not sure if this is going to prompt anything. I hope it will prompt some conscience to see that you need to understand that we need our finances so we can move on,” the lab technician said.

The technician stressed that the job of a medical technologist is integral to the health-care system but “people always overlook us”. The technician further pointed out that their job function requires them to be right behind the doctors for every diagnosis, and behind the nurses to ensure the correct medication is given, and to make sure the blood given during surgery is safe, among other critical things.

The technician stressed that medical technologists are proud of what they do and love their profession, “but at the same time we need the help of the finances that is there for us so we can better take care of our families”.

On Monday the Observer received several photographs of medical technologists dressed in black, as a sign of solidarity, bearing placards saying: “We want liveable wages”, “The little man needs to live too”, “We are hungry, we need our money”, “Mr Whyte must go”, and “Franklyn Whyte Please step down”.

It was anticipated that at least 10 hospitals would participate but only half are confirmed to have joined in from Mandeville Regional Hospital, Black River Hospital, Percy Junor Hospital, Port Antonio Hospital and May Pen Hospital.

When checks were made to see if the protest had any impact on the operations of participating hospitals, regional director for the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) Errol Greene said he was not aware of any such action at the hospitals under his purview as he had received no reports.

While speaking with the Observer, Greene again made checks and no hospital in that region was aware of today’s protest.

Further, Latoya Laylor Brown, public relations officer for the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) which covers Mandeville Regional Hospital, Black River Hospital, Percy Junor Hospital and May Pen Hospital, told the Observer there was no impact on the operations.

In the meantime, the medical technologists are adamant it was not their intention to disrupt the operations of the hospitals.

“Today’s action will not affect the hospital’s operation as we are not striking against the Government but our union. We have decided to strike in the afternoon [lunch hour] after the majority of the work is covered,” one medical technician said.

Said another: “Wearing black and showing a placard for a couple of minutes cannot be deduced to the whole health sector going down.”

Another colleague said the main aim for staging the protest was to “bring awareness of our plight to the ministry. I don’t know what they can do to help us but we are not getting anywhere at this time re our monies”.

On Sunday the medical technologists had indicated their intention to participate in a “go slow” in protest against the inaction of the Union of Technical Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP) to sign off on the recent compensation review package that would see some of them receiving a 150 per cent hike in their salaries.

They allege that the union decided not to accept the Government’s proposed package without consulting the medical technologists whose job it is to test and analyse blood, other body fluids, and tissue samples to help doctors diagnose and treat diseases.

They are seeking intervention in the matter from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Minister of Finance and the Public Service Dr Nigel Clarke, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton, and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions.