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
The Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph is optimistic ahead of the expected roll-out of a COVID-19 vaccine next year.
The Minister reaffirms the vaccine will be voluntary for residents, and expects public support once the facts are disseminated.
Sir Molwyn was speaking with ABS news following the first public consultation on COVID-19 vaccines at Sandals Grand Antigua today.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne is putting Port workers and their Union on alert that should any industrial action be sanctioned…the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force is on standby to fill the void.
This follows a December 11 letter from the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union to the Port Authority’s Human Resources Manager Jacqueline Swift.
The missive demands a 3.5 percent bonus be paid to workers on or before the 15th of December.
ABS’s Leon Norville has the latest on this developing story.