Several public sector workers including laboratory staff of three health facilities in western Jamaica are expected to remain off the job for the second consecutive day.

The affected workers who are employed to the Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny, the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland and the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James, have been off the job since 8 yesterday morning.

The workers who are represented by the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP) took action in response to the reported failure of their respective hospitals to address longstanding critical issues affecting their welfare and working conditions.

UTASP detailed that the affected workers are medical technologists, lab technical assistants, and lab attendants at Cornwall Regional Hospital, medical technologists, health records clerks, and health records technicians at Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, and their colleagues at Falmouth Hospital.

UTASP said in relation to Cornwall Regional Hospital, it has written repeatedly dating back to August 2023 regarding several unresolved matters to include non-payment of acting allowances, and delays in confirming permanent appointments.

At Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, there have been multiple correspondences from the union since July 2023.

According to the union, despite this, the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) has failed to take meaningful or verifiable steps to resolve these matters within a reasonable time frame.

The Union on Monday urged the WRHA to take the necessary action to prevent further service disruptions.

Speaking with IRIE FM News yesterday, UTASP General Secretary St Patrice Ennis said while he received communication from the WRHA and the permanent secretary in the Health Ministry late in the afternoon, the disgruntled workers had already planned to continue their protest today.