KHMH Workers Union Threatens Industrial Action Over Pension Dispute

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union is contemplating industrial action over what it says are long-standing pension issues. On Saturday, dozens of union workers, who were on break or not on duty, briefly demonstrated to call on the government to address the issue impacting hospital employees. According to the union, since KHMH became an Authority, employees have worked under the same conditions as other public servants but have not been granted the same secure pensions. It says that while a Provident Fund was introduced for new hires in 2018, long-serving employees remain without retirement benefits or pension plans. The union says that despite multiple attempts to initiate meaningful dialogue, there has been no progress since the last pension negotiation meeting in October 2023. The union is now demanding the government take immediate steps to address the issue to avoid taking further action. The union’s president, Andrew Baird, spoke about the rationale behind their decision and why the union workers feel unappreciated. 

Andrew Baird, President, KHMH Workers Union: “Certainly we had our membership meeting today to talk about our pension only. It’s a special meeting of the membership and staff who should be pensionable in accordance with the Karl Heusner Act and from our meeting our members and staff saw it necessary for us to have make a point today and thereafter until the government comes to the table and come up with something legitimate for our members and staff who are entitled to the pension. Tomorrow we continue by  sending out a press release tomorrow and then we’ll continue to plan within the week with other actions if necessary until we feel that the government is serious and pleased with what is being offered to us.”

Reporter: How any of the staff members here have decided to come ? 

Andrew Baird, President, KHMH Workers Union: “We had close to 100 persons today at our meeting and we have over 300 staff that are on the list that are pensionable. Most of the people came from home but those who are working they are on their break so they’re utilizing their break to be a part of this movement today. From 2001 the inception of the board those who were hired then prior to the public funds start in 2017 their terms and conditions did not include any retirement benefit and according to the Karl Heusner Act because of that we are pensionable. So when the program fund start in 2017 what happened to our services from then ? As a matter of fact I am still pensionable up to now because when I started my terms and conditions did not include the fund, it did not include any type of benefit.”

While the union’s demonstration did not affect the hospital’s services, it did garner the government’s attention. Our newsroom understands that the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Financial Secretary Joseph Waight have agreed to meet with the union next Monday. Nonetheless, Chief Executive Officer of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Chandra Nisbet-Cansino says the authority will be reaching out to the union to prevent any disruption in operations. 

Chandra Nisbet Cansino, CEO, KHMHA: “The union did request the use of the cafeteria for a meeting about the pension issue and that was approved. So we were well aware that they were going to be in the meeting and that were going to have the meeting so I guess they walked out of their meeting but they didn’t walk out of work and if people did walk out during their breaks then there was absolutely no impact whatsoever on patient services. So since then we have not spoken but certainly we will be reaching out to them if not today, tomorrow to see because I understand that they were speaking about other actions they want to take but the grievance is not with the authority so we would try to reach to to see what those would be and what their plan is. And likewise they should be reaching out to us as the employer as well. Always open to dialogue. We do support the union and the staff because not all of the persons who have these queries are members of the union but w support everybody who is asking for a review of this situation and we certainly support that a solution is found.”

The union says it may be taking further action on Wednesday