NATI
staff on ‘sit
out’
GARRISON
ROAD, FORT CANJE – Nine workers at the New
Amsterdam Technical Institute entered their fourth day on
‘sit out’, yesterday.
The workers have not been confirmed as permanent members of staff after
several years of service. Among them are ancillary, technician, janitor,
labourer, and librarian.
Jagdeo
distributes $3.5M
Among the benefits these persons are deprived of, are increased
remuneration packages, pension plan, leave passage, and the 21-day
vacation.
Their protest action commenced on May 6, last, when they staged a ‘go
slow’ that ended on May 8, after the Board of Governors for the New
Amsterdam Technical Institute appealed to them to be patient.
The disgruntled staff waited a few weeks but their plight remained
unchanged.
Their predicament was first brought to the attention of the officials at
the Personnel Department of the Ministry of Education in 1998. They were
informed back then that there was a general freeze on employment. With
that they continued to work as normal very hopeful the state of affairs
would change soon.
Last year a document, signed by the nine affected persons, was sent to
the Chairman of the New
Amsterdam Technical Institute Board of Governors. The
letter stated, inter alia, their concerns, what they are hoping for, and
the need for quick action.
Last April, the group wrote to no lesser person than President Bharrat
Jagdeo and to the Ministry of Education but to no avail.
The workers claimed that even if they are placed on the fixed
establishment, their payment would not be retroactive.
So far classes at the institution have not been directly affected but
yesterday, a worker indicated that the situation has started to have an
effect on the students. “The rooms are dirty; the washrooms are
smelling. The students cannot get access to the library and the Guyana
Technical Education Examination will commence in a few days. Another
thing is that, whenever there is an entrance test, the ancillary staff
is responsible for the preparation and all four of them are on sit-out.
Tomorrow (Friday) a number of students are to sit the entrance
examination.”
Mrs. Veretta Benn, a 53-year old cleaner, has 27 years of service at the
New Amsterdam Technical Institute and is still a temporary staff., “I
have never enjoyed a benefit…leave passage or so. I am coming off in
May 2011 and I want to know what would happen to me.”
Mrs. Benn sustained an injury on the job and this has affected her gait.
“I now have a knee problem. I never got any benefits. Is that fair to
me? I wrote a letter to the President in April this year.”
Judy Benjamin, who now performs as General Clerk, Accounts Clerk, and
Senior Clerk, joined the staff in 1993 as an office assistant. In 1998
she began to act in the capacity of general clerk and has not been
confirmed to date. “If they bring persons on board, it means they do
not want our service.
“Rather than bringing new persons to fill those vacancies take us…we
are already here; we are competent. We have been here for so many
years.”
With 11 years of service, Michelle Lampkin, a Clerk, said that the New
Amsterdam Technical Institute Board of Governors came into existence in
2006. So far they, the temporary staff, have been receiving tremendous
support from this body.
According to Ms. Lampkin, vacancies were advertised and in 2007 persons
were employed on the permanent staff. “We are here all these years
doing the work…giving of our best and we are not on the fixed
establishment. Persons just came and they are enjoying the benefits as
public servants.”
Sharon Straker is the Librarian with 16 years of service. “I am still
temporary. I am not getting any benefits; leave passage or anything and
only 14 days annual leave I receive. When you are confirmed as permanent
staff you enjoy 21 days annual leave.”
Soorsattie Singh has been the charwoman for ten years and her story is
no different. “I would like to be on the fixed establishment. I want
to come off (retire) with something.”
Sharmilla Ramdass is another charwoman. “I am here for eight years and
that is not fair to me…this is discrimination. They (new staff) just
come and they are permanent. I think the nine of us should all be placed
on the permanent staff.”
Dindyal Sookram is an Auto Technician 1. “I have been employed for
eight years and still cannot enjoy the advantages of being on the fixed
establishment, and I am doing the job. That does no good for my morale.
I am calling on the relevant authorities to look into the matter.”
Sookram produced a proposal from the Principal of the institution,
Ronald Simon, which was said to have been submitted to the Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry of Education in 2002 for him to be confirmed a
permanent member of staff. To date the situation remains unchanged.
The protesting workers cited the dilemma of the former storekeeper
Vibert Blair. “He had 34 years of service and was still temporary. In
2008 he collected a letter from the School Board Secretariat informing
him that he had to go with immediate effect because he had attained the
age of 60. He had no benefits!”
Yesterday, efforts to contact the head of the New Amsterdam Technical
Institute Board of Governors were unsuccessful.
(Melissa Johnson)
Benn and Blair were there during the 'illegal'
former President, Desmond Hoyte.
Friday, June 05, 2009