The CEO of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) has accused the Workers’ Union of “violating the law” and “putting the safety of patients at risk” after over 40 staff members reportedly called in sick on Tuesday, which caused disruptions to essential services.
In a letter to the Minister of Labour, CEO Chandra Nisbet-Cansino formally declared a trade dispute with the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers’ Union (KHMHAWU) and requested the establishment of an Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal.
“Attempts made to resolve the issue have been futile. The Authority maintains that the KHMHA staff do not qualify for a pension under the Pensions Act,” Cansino said in the letter. “Despite an offer being made for their consideration, the KHMHAWU has proceeded with industrial action as opposed to negotiation.”
The KHMHAWU recently rejected the government’s proposal of a 4% ex gratia payment towards retirement benefits for staff covering 2001–2017. The union called it a step back from earlier promises and criticised the hospital’s portrayal of basic benefits as generous incentives.
The hospital says the union failed to report a trade dispute as legally required. The sickout affected units such as dialysis and radiology, where several patients had to be sent home.
A text message sent to KHMHA staff informed them that “radiologists have call-in sick. Due to this, we will not be able to facilitate ultrasounds and contrasted CT scans.”
The Ministry of Labour is now being asked to intervene to facilitate resolution under the Essential Services Act.