Workers Struggles: The Americas
Chilean health workers strike to protest insufficient pay raise
Chile’s National Confederation of Municipal Health Functionaries (Confusam) began a national strike December 16. The walkout was called to voice opposition to the paltry raises offered by the government of President Sebastian Piñera; a 2.7 percent rise in monthly wages for up to 1.5 million pesos (US$2,068) and 0.8 percent for wages up to 3 million pesos (US$4,137).
In a CNN interview, the Confusam president denounced the “adjustment” that “leaves the majority of our functionaries with less purchasing power than before.” He added that the Christmas and end-of-year bonuses have been frozen, with the government justifying it by “arguments that denigrate our actions as workers, and that allude to the help that the state should give to businessmen to sustain the economy.” Instead, “They want the crisis to be paid for by those who are risking their lives fighting the pandemi
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‘It is known that bonuses may not be paid in times of financial crisis’, says Port’s CEO
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By Orville Williams
Following the threat of industrial from workers at the port, the CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority Darwin Telemaque, has explained that there exists an understanding that bonus payments may not be made in times of financial crisis.
Telemaque’s comments came on the heels of escalating tension among the port workers this week, over news that their annual bonuses would not be paid due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The workers’ bargaining agent – the Antigua Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) – had issued a deadline to the port’s management for a 3.5% bonus to be paid, with the threat of industrial action otherwise.
Int’l union stands in solidarity with the ABWU
The Antigua Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) has secured the support of its affiliate, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) as it looks to continue talks with the management of the Antigua Port Authority over payment of a 3.5 percent bonus for workers that was previously agreed to in a collective agreement.
The ITF is a global trade union organisation with 650 affiliates from 150 countries representing almost 20 million transport workers. The organisation has written to both Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin.
ITF explained, in the two-page letter, that it was quite disappointed that the agreed productivity bonuses will not be paid to the workers in violation of the written and signed collective agreement between the union and the management of the port.
Cabinet to discuss furloughing port workers and implementing voluntary redundancy
Prime Minister Gaston Browne made some stark remarks in Parliament on Tuesday, as he scolded the Antigua & Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) for encouraging port workers to take industrial action over unpaid bonuses.
As a result of the threat to withhold their services, Browne said Cabinet would be discussing reinstating voluntary redundancy and will have to consider furloughing some of the 250 port workers.
Browne claims that the port only needs 80 of the 250 workers currently employed in order to function efficiently.
He revealed that when his government took office in 2014, it made the decision to suspend a voluntary retrenchment programme which had been in the works by the former administration.