meeting yesterday and have upped their demands.

Their union, the Bermuda Public Servants Association, say they had not been given the offer they originally agreed to in February while the hospital claims the union misunderstood what was on the table.

The union thought all nurses would go up two grades in pay in April while senior nurses would have to wait until next April for the second hike.

However the agreement said the second pay scale increase would happen next April for all nurses, claim the hospital board. Hospital board Chairwoman Ianthia Simmons Wade said the hospital couldn't offer any more cash because Government had not given it permission to raise fees charged to patients and insurance companies by the expected 4.5 percent but had only granted a 2.8 percent hike.

But she said the hospital had written to the Finance Department to ask them to reconsider, but was still waiting for a response.

She said the hospital recognised the misunderstanding had been genuine and had offered a further grade hike in April 2003 to enhance the agreement.

Nurses are angry that the pay offer did not match that given to other hospital occupations known as Allied Health who include X-ray technicians, lab technicians, occupational therapists and pharmacists.

BPSA General Secretary Ed Ball said: "The nurses are of the opinion that the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) do not value their service because of the vast disparity in salary rate increases of Allied Health, whose new pay rates have increased substantially higher than nurses.

"In April 2001 the Board's proposal would award some Allied Health Workers with salary increases of $1,829 and up to a maximum of $7,000 annually.

"Whereas the nurses' increases reflect a minimum of $300 and up to a maximum of $2,675 annually.

"Some hospital health care workers with substantially less qualifications and responsibilities than nurses are being paid higher wages.'' And Mr. Ball said nurses at the health clinic and Lefroy House seniors home were paid more than those at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St.

Brendan's.

But Mrs. Simmons Wade said Allied Health workers were paid more than nurses in America, Canada and Britain.

She said: "If around the world they get paid more you can't say we are discriminating.'' Mr. Ball said nurses felt demoralised.

He said: "We support the pay rises that others have received.

"However the nurses are asking for an increase in salary commensurate with their years of experience, education and responsibilities.'' Mr. Ball said a proposal put by the BHB on Wednesday had been rejected because it contained too many uncertainties. And he said his union had submitted a new proposal to the board and would be holding a mass membership meeting on Wednesday to consider any new offer.

But Mrs. Simmons-Wade said hospital management had not yet seen the new salary demand. She said: "We had an agreement. To come back now and say even though it was in writing we didn't think you meant what you said? It's a little embarrassing.''