Demands by Striking Pharmacists Cannot Be Met

In spite of the ongoing strike by Government Hospital Pharmacists, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) boss, George Smith Graham has said that the demands of the health workers will not be met.

Most government hospital pharmacies have been closed to patients since March 30.

The pharmacists are protesting what they say is the indiscreet grading of their jobs under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), resulting in reductions in their monthly remuneration, and for others some unexplained deductions.

But Mr Graham said the FWSC has gone through a lot of processes as far as part of the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure is concerned but about the Pharmacists, most of them did not like the grade that they were placed under.

"…the Pharmacists did not like the grading that the consultant had done so they decided to do a job re-evaluation and after the job re-evaluation they rated themselves lower than what the original consultant rendered," Mr Graham recounted.

"Initial works by the original consultant placed them lower but after certain considerations we decided to place them at certain levels. Having done that, we placed them appropriately and we placed them at levels that in our view make sure that it is aligned with the institutional structures at least to bring harmony…"

A meeting called by the sector ministry on Tuesday to try and resolve their grievances failed to end the industrial action.

The pharmacists have refused to cooperate and rather chosen to discuss their complaints with the sector minister but the Chief Executive of FWSC stated categorically on a local radio station that "they can speak to the minister alright but I can say with all certainty that the grades of the pharmacists will not be touched."

Meanwhile the Striking Pharmacists vowed to step up their strike following the remarks by the FWSC.