Over 80 dental surgeons attached to the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Regional Health Authorities have taken industrial action over what they have described, as the deliberate delay by the Finance Ministry, in responding to their issues.

The dental surgeons and the Finance Ministry have been negotiating over the Government’s new compensation programme.

The workers have cited several anomalies in the offers made to them by the Ministry, including salary levels comparable to junior staff members.

They are being represented by the Jamaica Association of Public Dental Surgeons, an affiliate of the Union of Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees (U-CASE).

Speaking with IRIE FM news, U-CASE President, Vincent Morrison said several attempts to get the Finance Ministry’s response to proposals put forward in a meeting held last Friday (March 24) have been unsuccessful.

This, he explained has led to the industrial action taken by the dental surgeons.