And while the unions may welcome allies of all stripes, the staff of the KHMH one has the leader of the "Blu" as one of theirs.
IT has been announced that they will be exempt from the 10% salary cuts being implemented across the public service.
It an announcement that comes after yesterday's meeting between PM Briceno and the KHMH Union. And it comes as a result of the status of the hospital staff who cannot be considered public servants.
Here's more on how the negotiation went down from Union representative Andrew Baird.
Andrew Baird - Union Representative, KHMH Workers Union "KHMH staff has always been used conveniently when it comes to whether you are public officers or not when it fits the government when they want to treat us like we're public officers. So, this purpose, we wanted to get it clear and right so that when we address our staff and membership at KHMH we know what footing we stand on and yesterday the prime minister declared to us and let us know clearly that we are not public officers, and we are not included in the 10% salary cut. However, he went on to speak about the subvention and he said that the government will try its utmost best to ensure that the KHMH subvention is not being cut, however there was never a guarantee that it won't, but they will try their best, we understand that fully well. If it is that the subvention is cut down the line, then it is going to be a issue for the board and the management at KHMH across the union to look at see what would be the best way out as far as best interest for all. We will always look at it as salary cut being the last resort but again, I say the staff at KHMH have already sacrificed quite a number throughout the years. I don't know much more that the staff would be able to sacrifice without feeling the real pinch of it economically at home. Remember we're already giving the service to the nation with a miniscule budget to KHMH. I believe KHMH gets something like 25 million dollars per annum from the government as a subvention but if you look at he real cost of health care of which we have done, we have what you call a white paper, financial document from 2015 that the then adhoc committee along with Dr. Coye who was the then CEO had come up to present to the then government to show what it cost to keep the doors of KHMH open on a daily basis and the cost of surgeries. The general public must appreciate the service at KHMH for the price that they pay but all in all, when that time comes, it will be something for the management, the board and the union to negotiate or dialogue on and see the best way out."
