Health Workers Stage Protest at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre Over Pay, Pension Concerns

Health workers at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre took protest action Tuesday over long-standing grievances, including unpaid COVID-19 allowances and unresolved pension issues, according to the president of the People’s Union.

Ralph Potter made the remarks during an interview conducted on the hospital grounds by community activist George Wenner.

Potter said employees have been raising concerns with management for years — in some cases as long as 17 years — without resolution.

“Today a number of the employees took protest action,” Potter said, describing what he called a pattern of management failing to address workers’ complaints.

He said staff were also dissatisfied with representation from the Antigua Trades and Labour Union, which they voted for as their bargaining agent more than two years ago. According to Potter, workers approached the People’s Union seeking assistance because they felt their grievances were not being adequately pursued.

Following the protest, Potter said a delegation met with hospital management and received a commitment that the issues would be taken to the board of directors.

Among the concerns raised was the non-payment of a $1,000 monthly allowance that was reportedly promised to certain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Potter said some workers have yet to receive those payments.

He also highlighted uncertainty surrounding pension rights for employees who transferred from the former Holberton Hospital and other government departments when the medical centre opened in 2007. Potter said some of those workers had pension arrangements under existing government laws, but their status remains unclear.

“The employees here do not know where they stand with respect to a pension,” he said, noting that several are nearing retirement age.

Potter added that workers have also complained of victimization and preferential treatment within the institution.

Management has not yet publicly responded to the claims.

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