THA Workers Protest Over Outstanding Overtime Payments - Sunday, 25 January 2015 01:07 Written by Tobago News The protesters insist that more people are affected by the issue, but the fear of victimization runs rife among staff. What say you Mr. Ancil Dennis? A small group of dissatisfied employees of the Divisions of Community Development and Culture and Agriculture Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment downed tools on Wednesday in protest of the length of time it is taking for them to receive their overtime payments. The watchmen are clamoring for outstanding overtime payments of arrears up to four years. The protesters insist that more people are affected by the issue, but the fear of victimization runs rife among staff. They are collectively encouraging more Tobagonians to stand for what is right and are calling on the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to make good on their numerous promises to pay them. The protesters are citing an increasing cost of living on the island and a fixed salary as the premise of their frustration. The Secretary of Community Development and Culture Dr Denise-Tsoiafatt-Angus told the media recently that the Audit Unit of the THA is in the process of evaluating mandated arrears across the Assembly, and this should be completed in February. Dr. Angus gave the assurance that the necessary sheets have been tallied based on the amount due to each worker and funds would be paid as approved by the Unit. When contacted for comment on recent developments, the Secretary added that she would welcome the opportunity to have further discussions if there are additional issues being experienced by the workers. But one of the watchmen attached to the Division of Community Development and Culture Sylvan Francis is accusing the divisions of employing ‘stall tactics’, noting that similar promises were made in November 2014. “Our main issue is that there is no accountability really. There’s no dialogue between the workers and the Division. No one liaised with us to say hey, this is being done so we can understand because there are a lot more of us that are being affected. In total it could be about 30 or 35 of us,” he notes. He states that the workers have no trust in the Division because large amounts of money are being spent to stage events for the upcoming carnival season and they are doubtful that they will receive the monies owed in February. “This action today is simply to remind those in authority that we are still here and we are waiting,” he adds. Commenting on the protest during Wednesday’s Post Executive Council Media Briefing, Chief Secretary, Orville London said everything is being done to ensure workers receive their payments as promised. He is blaming the delay on administrative challenges. “What you have got to realise when these things happen, it is normally not because the Assembly doesn’t want to pay, there normally are some administrative and other issues that often times would come to the fore. It did not stem from the Executive Council or the administrator not willing to pay; there are some issues that were administrative and made it difficult for these payments to be processed. I myself do not understand it, but the commitment has been made,” London told reporters
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 03:27:57 +0000
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