The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is said to be on the verge of industrial action over the non-reinstatement of its president Akanni McDowall to an acting senior post within Government, after he was unceremoniously reverted to his substantive junior position last year.
Earlier today, an NUPW source told Barbados TODAY the union had already issued an ultimatum to the Personnel Administration Division and that the matter was about to come to a head.
The NUPW is accusing Chief Personnel Officer Gail Atkins of failing to honour the decision taken during high level talks late last year that involved the Solicitor General and representatives of the various trade unions, that McDowall must be paid for acting as Health Planning Officer 1 since his removal was deemed to be illegal.
“The CPO was supposed to follow the instructions of that meeting. She did not. We sent her a letter giving her a timeline to follow the instructions. She did not. So technically from there, the union was in its right to start action, but we are trying to give as much time as possible to the Government side to follow through,” one union official explained.
The source also pointed out that based on the agreement reached at the meeting, the CPO was required to reinstate McDowall. However, the source, said this decision had not been honoured either.
In fact, the source said the only action taken was to re-assign the officer who had replaced McDowall in the acting post.
“Following that meeting the union had sent correspondence to the CPO, one of which was for her to follow the instructions of the meeting. That was supposed to be done by last week Monday. The instructions still have not been followed. If the civil service does not follow through in a reasonable time, even after we have given a deadline, the union will have to take steps to get this matter resolved,” the NUPW official told Barbados TODAY.
“The union is going to start ramping up action if the Government doesn’t follow its own instructions,” the source warned.
Calling it political victimization, the union had cried foul over the action taken against McDowall, who has been carrying the union’s fight to the Government on several matters, including its outsourcing of jobs at the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA).
This is blackmail. Government cannot reinstate this man in to an acting position if it was deemed that he had either failed in the position or the need for him acting up is no longer there.
To bow to this union threat will in effect give him the position permanently by the backdoor.
Government must go to court to halt the union’s action and, if Mr Mc Dowall refuses to comply, sack him.
Don’t be intimidated by the threat of union action. The vast majority of Barbadians are behind you.
This is blackmail. Government cannot reinstate this man in to an acting position if it was deemed that he had either failed in the position or the need for him acting up is no longer there.
To bow to this union threat will in effect give him the position permanently by the backdoor.
Government must go to court to halt the union’s action and, if Mr Mc Dowall refuses to comply, sack him.
Don’t be intimidated by the threat of union action. The vast majority of Barbadians are behind you.
Hal Austin who say his job performance was bad,i can see u r just like government don’t like the union and willing to do anything to bust and disrespect the union the gentleman deserve his position back especially government already come to an agreement,i hope the union take action against the authority aggressively send a message to authorities who believe in Union busting
Hal Austin who say his job performance was bad,i can see u r just like government don’t like the union and willing to do anything to bust and disrespect the union the gentleman deserve his position back especially government already come to an agreement,i hope the union take action against the authority aggressively send a message to authorities who believe in Union busting
Observer,
Your powers of observation have failed. I did not say he had failed. Plse re-read what I said. There must have been a reason why he was returned to his substantive position.
Observer,
Your powers of observation have failed. I did not say he had failed. Plse re-read what I said. There must have been a reason why he was returned to his substantive position.
He was returned to his substantive post where he belongs.
He was not properly qualified for the other job.
Just get on with the job nobody is going to take away your Union bought Mercedes Benz.
He was returned to his substantive post where he belongs.
He was not properly qualified for the other job.
Just get on with the job nobody is going to take away your Union bought Mercedes Benz.
Let’s be realistic, he was in a position to which we say he was not qualified. OK. He performed well since he had no bad reports. OK. He was reverted to his substantive position. OK. He was replaced by another officer that is even less qualified and juniour to him. OK. The post still have not been filled with an individual that IS qualified to perform the tasks. Therefore it would make sense to extend his contract in the acting position since there were no suitably qualified persons to fill the post, as he has gained the experience and knowledge previously.
Let’s be realistic, he was in a position to which we say he was not qualified. OK. He performed well since he had no bad reports. OK. He was reverted to his substantive position. OK. He was replaced by another officer that is even less qualified and juniour to him. OK. The post still have not been filled with an individual that IS qualified to perform the tasks. Therefore it would make sense to extend his contract in the acting position since there were no suitably qualified persons to fill the post, as he has gained the experience and knowledge previously.