NIS staff take action

Industrial action is looming at one of the most critical public sector departments in response to a number of pressing issues that include apparent breaches of COVID-19 workplace protocol and a recent proposal that could significantly alter the terms of workers’ employment contracts.

With the backing of at least two trade unions, employees of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) walked off the job on Tuesday complaining of health and safety breaches including cramped working conditions, which they fear could expose them to the virus. The concerns boiled over after an employee at the Culloden Road complex tested positive and management failed to sanitise the building to the workers’ satisfaction.

Dozens of workers from various departments converged on the northern end of the NIS Culloden Road headquarters around 1 p.m., to meet with President of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Akanni McDowall.

Frustration quickly turned to vexation as workers opposed a proposal to remove the NIS from the mainstream public service and replace it with a statutory board. They fear this could erode their years of service and make them more dispensable.

In response to alleged health and safety breaches, McDowall and General Secretary of the Unity Workers’ Union (UWU) Senator Caswell Franklyn instructed their members to remain off the job until their safety could be guaranteed. They are also demanding an “urgent” meeting with Acting NIS Director Jennifer Hunte to discuss the matter.

“We are taking matters of safety absolutely seriously,” declared McDowall

“We have said to them in no uncertain terms that there should be no clustering of officers in any space because it will not only affect them, but it has the potential to affect their families and by extension their communities.   

“We believe that the sanitisation of the stations and the building wherever necessary ought to take place. So somebody has to speak with us. The problem here, as is always the problem, is communication. Somebody has to speak to the union and tell us exactly why these things are happening in the NIS. Until somebody speaks with us, the staff will remain put until we are able to resolve those significant issues,” the union president added.

Franklyn, a former NIS employee whose union represents “one or two” current workers said he was also asked to address the matter.

The outspoken Opposition Senator slammed managers of the department for failing to facilitate the physical distancing that has been mandated by the government, even in circumstances where employees can work remotely.

“Those who can work from home should work from home and then the remainder, who cannot work from home would be able to social distance. But these bosses want people all cramped up together because they feel good having people under them. So the workers must decide whether they will do it or not, because they have a right to [stay away] from dangerous work and working with people who are not from your household is dangerous to your health and you can refuse to work and that is what I advised them,” Franklyn explained.

The union leaders also expressed concern about a recent proposal from NIS Chairman Leslie Haynes that would transition the public sector board to a statutory board. This, he said, would give the current board “a little bit more control and a firmer hand” with respect to the staff.

In addition to these apparent efficiencies, Senator Franklyn warned that under a statutory board, the workers would no longer be governed within the tenets of the public service and could therefore be dismissed in under a year without any recourse.

“These people want to have a situation where they will be able to hire and fire, but the National Insurance [Scheme] is too large and complicated for [the board] to be worrying about staff. Let them stop what they are doing and allow the experts in Personnel [Administration Department] to continue to do the personnel work. But they don’t want that, because that way, they can’t find jobs for their yardfowls and friends,” Franklyn suggested.

“This is what this is all about and my advice to them is to say no, because you cannot force [them] to change conditions of service and you cannot put in a statutory board if they don’t want to be in a statutory board,” he added.

Meanwhile McDowall, who was flanked by Acting Deputy General Secretary Richard Greene revealed that last year, the now retired Acting General Secretary Delcia Burke in a meeting with stakeholders relayed the union’s opposition to the proposed changes.

“We have not yet been consulted in a proper way on what the changes will mean for terms and conditions. Until that happens, the union’s position remains the same.

(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)