Philipsburg: --- Several civil servants plans to protest against the island government decision on what is offered to them with the new placement structure which began on Monday. These workers have fourteen days to appeal the proposal given to them. As of Monday next week they would also have the opportunity to be interviewed on their discontentment. The island government is trying to structure its workers and to prepare them for the new status. "Right now the ways things are people from several departments are working any and everywhere and government needs to place its workers in such a way they can be transferred to the Ministries when country status takes effect."
The civil servants spoke to this media house on anonymity said they have an agreement with the island government which gives a guarantee that the workers would not loose monies in the new system, but it seems that the island government has not respected the agreement. The workers said they are concerned with the fact that the island government has taken away the opportunity for them to grow.
They said in the former system they had the opportunity to request an increase or higher position without a challenge but that has been totally eliminated. Workers can only get an increase or promotion if they follow certain training courses which are only available to those in high positions. "To get to a higher position the workers would have to leave the island to further their studies at their own expense and with the new system government does not have a clear program in place for those courses which are offered off island. Second to that the civil core believes that the island government has just opened a door to encourage the influx of foreign labor.
There are workers who would remain in the same scale for over 20 years and there is no possibility for them advance, one employee said she has been in her position for the past 23 years and she felt that she would have been able to get something better in this new setting, but with what is offered to her has left her in the same setting.
In an interview with President of the Placement Committee and Civil Servant Union William Reed acknowledged that there are some discrepancies with the system and that they (the union) need to take an inventory on the amount of workers that are being affected. Reed said when that is done he would have to approach the appeals committee on the matter to see if the worker or workers were treated fairly. He further explained that this was something they had expected since nothing is perfect.
He said he already know that there are a few situations of uncertainty since the position the civil servant held over the years has now being eliminated in the new structure.
He said the union already addressed the island government on these situations which has to be followed up. One of the solutions he said to this problem is the island government has to now look for new positions to place the workers that are left in the cold. Reed said that the union has to make sure the new position that is created for each worker would match their present scale and give them perspective for growth within the government apparatus.
The Unionist said his aim to make sure the over 800 workers in the civil core is placed in the new setting which is fair and in the best interest of the workers. However, he said that even though there is some discomfort with the process there is no impasse between the union and the island government. He urged the workers who feel that they are not in their rightful position to approach the committee to appeal or file a complaint.
He said that the island government has made a promise to its workers and if they are not able to live up those promise then they would have to kiss the status goodbye since that would be a clear indication that they are not ready. However, he is of the option that the island government would deliver what they have promised to its people.
