And as we've reported, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Workers Union has been fighting for their pension. Last we spoke to them, they were considering the GOB's proposal and taking a vote from their members. Well, today the president said that the members rejected the proposal. But he also alleged that the government has been twisting the narrative.
Andrew Baird, President, KHMHWU
"On June 5th the government, the first thing they came and did, they said listen, you are not negotiating anymore with us. You're negotiating with the authority. The government is only giving financial support to what is agreed upon by the authority. Well listen, it doesn't matter who we're negotiating with, our position remains the same."
"We have a retirement fund for new workers from 2018 where it is mandatory, their terms and conditions make it mandatory for them to contribute 3% and the employer contribute 4%. So they decided that for the services that we are claiming from 2001 to 2018 or even present for some workers that they will compensate us with a 4% considering that to be the employer portion. We make it clear that we have discussions in meetings with our members based on the February 17th meeting with the government where they were discussing a probable 4% and we sat with our members and it was clear from our membership that it was not going to be acceptable. When they make that position of 4%, we did not make any counter to the 4% but rather stated that we have to go back to our membership with what is tabled by the government or now the authority. We also agree that a written letter of what was discussed and what was put to the table by the government or the authority would have brought forward to us by 5:00 on June 5th. 5:10 we did receive a letter signed by the chairman of the board of Karl Heusner which went back all the way to February 17th where they stated that our union, in the February 17th meeting, they tabled 4% to us and we agreed to 4% and that we also countered a 7%. Totally misleading."
