KHMH Union Halts Strike Amid Dispute Over Process

There’s a pause in the pressure at Belize’s flagship hospital. The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Workers Union has officially called off its industrial action, at least for now. This comes after hospital management escalated the situation last week by declaring a trade dispute and calling in the Ministry of Labor. As we’ve been reporting, K.H.M.H. C.E.O. Chandra Cansino reached out to Minister Florencio Marin Junior, invoking the Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act. But union president Andrew Baird says that move was premature and claims proper procedures weren’t followed. Still, the union says it’s committed to following the formal steps now that a trade dispute has been declared.

 

On the Phone: Andrew Baird, President, KHMH Workers Union

“We are just waiting to hear from the Minister of Labor, Honorable Marin, to set up a date for us to meet along with authority and government officials to continue to dialogue along that medium. In regards to the dispute lodged by the CEO of Karl Heusner, we have ceased our industrial action given that the law provides  that during this period we cannot do any industrial action. So we give the opportunity for dialogue and hopefully through that we can come up with a resolution rather than have to have a tribunal set up by the labor department.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Do you think this was warranted?”

 

On the Phone: Andrew Baird

“I think due process was not followed and we were not given an opportunity to counter propose based on four percent ex gratia payment submitted to us. In fair due process one would allow the other party to be able to come to the table and make a counter proposal. That was not afforded to us.”