The last you heard from the KHMHWU, they were awaiting a response from the government, which was supposed to come on June 20th. They say they didn't receive any and they sent a letter to the negotiating team this morning at 6:30. A couple of hours after that, they were informed by the CEO that the letter was sent on Friday. That letter contained an offer for an ex gratia payment from 2001 to 2017. However, according to the union president, that isn't satisfactory to them. Additionally, the letter from the Authority says that, quote, "This payment is in addition to other benefits every staff member accrues during the referenced period of employment and includes severance, social security benefits, vacation days, and provident fund benefits." End quote. They also include that the staff enjoys various incentives including free medical care, group health insurance, study leave, and more. However, this part was like adding salt to the wound for the union and they held an impromptu press conference late this evening.
Andrew Baird, President - KHMHWU
"What is being presented to us with a 4% ex-Gratia payment is nowhere better than what we had before with the 4% of the employer portion of the provident fund. Our members make it clear to the negotiating team and the executive that this 4% of ex-Gratia is unacceptable and they must wheel and come again."
"Then we notice about half an hour ago or so a press release and a government press office comes out and while the letter asks us to be in confidentiality, I believe the confidentiality was away from the media."
"They not even give us an opportunity to finish and meet with our members and to respond back to what they have proposed. Then they put out a press release talking a lot of nonsense. Shame on them indeed, talking a lot of nonsense about meals."
"Let me tell you something, when it comes to nurses, meal is a part of the condition for nurses, a free meal. Many of these other staff at Karl Heusner are living paycheck to paycheck while people like the CEO and the other board members of Karl Heusner, they collect a paycheck and all the high allowance."
"Tell the CEO come forward and show us the amount of allowances that she is collecting to be talking about a common meal. The insurance, they talk about an insurance. Every employee that is a part of the insurance pay their fair share."
"We pay our fair share, severance, they talk about severance and social security benefit. Severances is a given. if you do not have a retirement benefit for the staff at Karl Heusner when they leave, according to the labor act, they are entitled to severance."
"So you are not giving us anything. Vacation leave is something that is earned by the staff of this institution when they come and work. It's a part of the terms and condition. The Provident Fund, we appreciate their 4%, they should be given 7%. While we pay 3%."
"But we pay a fair share to the provident fund as well for them to come out here and boast, like they are doing us a favour."
"They were to reconsider that position and come back to us on the 28th of June. They have failed to have done so until today and they come back with even what is less."
We will have more from the late evening press conference in tomorrow's newscast.
