KHMHA Workers Union Meets with GOB Over Pension Demands

Tensions are rising once again at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where the KHMHA Workers Union is turning up the pressure on the Government of Belize. This morning, union members gathered outside the hospital in a show of unity ahead of a critical mediation meeting with government officials. At the heart of the dispute is retirement security. The union is demanding that the government address the plight of over three hundred healthcare workers who currently have no pension to look forward to, despite years of frontline service in Belize’s public health system. Just last Friday, these workers took to the streets of Belize City, calling on the Briceno administration to act. But with the hospital operating as a statutory body, how willing is the government to meet their demands?

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

This morning, members of the KHMH Workers Union gathered outside the hospital, showing a united front ahead of a key meeting with government officials. Union President Andrew Baird addressed the crowd, laying out the union’s game plan for the talks. At the center of their demands is a pension plan for more than three hundred hospital employees who were hired between 2000 and 2017 and currently have no retirement benefits. The union says these workers have dedicated years—some, even decades—to Belize’s public health system and deserve financial security when they retire.

 

Andrew Baird, President, KHMH Workers Union

“We are focused and as you hear just now, we want our pension, that is our focus. That has been before and we continue to say it to the government even now that we want our pension, even more so that they have added the Coast Guard and they have added the grant aided teachers to receive full pension from the government. We deserve the same pension. We are equal as animals.”

 

After rallying outside, the KHMH Workers Union executive headed into the hospital’s conference room to lay out their demands. The meeting was brief, just over an hour. As government officials began leaving the building, they declined to speak with the media, saying they needed to consult with Cabinet before making any public statements.

 

Dr. Julio Sabido, C.E.O , Ministry of Health and Wellness

“No because we also commit to them that we give not even a statement.”

 

We did manage to catch a quick word with Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, who’s no stranger to the country’s books. He was at the table today, helping crunch the numbers, but even he kept things close to the chest.

 

Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary

“Very quick comment, useful meeting, productive. We have to go back, they have to go back, so I cant give anything of substance, but it was respectful and constructive.”

 

Paul Lopez

“You are obviously here to crunch the number.”

Joseph Waight

“That is still in the process, but it is a big number.”

 

The union’s executive must also go back to its members with government’s proposal. Their team came out of the discussion bearing a serious demeanor on their face. We heard from President Baird.

 

Andrew Baird

“Certainty it was an amicable meeting. Like with any other meeting we have hiccups here and there. But, it was amicable and we now go back to our members later tonight and reveal the position of the government and get a mandate from the members as to how we move forward. We will receive a letter from the government to clarify their position and we wait for that letter by five o’clock this evening.”

 

Paul Lopez

“So far is your proposal favorable to you and your pension?”

 

Andrew Baird

“We are yet to speak to our members so I do not want to put anything out there as yet, but we go back to our membership tonight.”

Paul Lopez

“Am I to take from the silence and expression on your faces that something like that is being proposed, falling short of what you are asking for?”

 

Andrew Baird

“I cannot say. We will be guided by our members.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How am I to translate or interpret the expression on your faces at this point?”

 

Andrew Baird

“Like all the time you come out and the sun is shining on your faces, you know but certainly it is a good day for us here at KHMH. But we need to be responsible and go back to our membership before we can state anything to the media or so.”

 

Following today’s mediation meeting, Union President Andrew Baird says the government appears more committed than ever before to resolving the issue. It’s a shift in tone that union members have been waiting to hear. But the road ahead still depends on the union’s next move. Baird says whether industrial action continues will be up to the membership, who are expected to make that decision during a meeting scheduled for tonight. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.