Four nurses from the Matilda Smith Williams home went on strike late yesterday claiming they were owed back pay from 2002.

The board of trustees from the AME Church, which subsidises the seniors residence, met last night to discuss the pay issue, according to the assistant administrator Penny Cook.

Mrs. Cook said the four nurses who went on strike were immediately replaced by a pool of emergency staff. The nurses are understood to work the evening to early morning shift.

?We can assure people that the residents? care has not been compromised in any way. The board of trustees are meeting now and we are confident their will be a resolution by (Friday) morning,? Mrs. Cook said. In January it was reported that the Devonshire seniors homec could be forced to shut its doors because of a lack of cash.