As some healthcare workers employed to at least eight hospitals take industrial action, the Health and Wellness Ministry says resources are being mobilised to ensure minimal disruption to health services across the country.

Sickouts by nurses and midwives, which commenced today across the Southeast, Northeast and Southern Regional Health Authorities, reportedly centre around retroactive monies owed to them.

Medical technologists, lab technical assistants, lab attendants, health records clerks and health records technicians from the Cornwall Regional, Savanna-la-Mar and Falmouth Hospitals are protesting outstanding payments and poor working conditions. The employees have been off the job since 8 AM yesterday.

In a statement released this afternoon, the Ministry stated that other health facilities have been affected by the industrial action.

These include the Victoria Jubilee, Kingston Public, St. Ann’s Bay, Port Maria, Annotto Bay, May Pen, Percy Junor and Port Antonio Hospitals. The ministry stated that the Clarendon and St. Ann Health Departments are also affected.

The Ministry noted that it will continue to support dialogue between union groups and the Finance Ministry to ensure the settlement of the issues identified.

Meanwhile, the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), which represents staff at the Cornwall Regional, Savanna-la-Mar and Falmouth hospitals, said any decision to bring its members’ protest into a third day is dependent on dialogue with the Ministry.

UTASP President, St. Patrice Ennis, told IRIE FM News that the union’s line of communication remains open.