Tensions between daily-paid workers and the San Fernando City Corporation (SFCC) eased yesterday, after overdue salaries reached their bank accounts. But Contractors and General Workers Union (CGWU) president Ermine De Bique-Meade says the union is closely monitoring how payments are handled in the future.
On Tuesday, dozens of workers, led by De Bique-Meade, stormed City Hall ahead of the monthly statutory meeting, demanding their salaries. It was the third consecutive fortnight of late payments. As the workers crowded the lobby, United National Congress alderman Vilianna Ramoutarsingh handed her phone to De Bique-Meade, who spoke directly with Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen.
During the call, Ameen said she had not been informed of the outstanding salaries and criticised Mayor Robert Parris for failing to raise the issue with her. She added that it was only through Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities Clyde Elder, who spoke with affected workers, that she became aware of the matter.
De Bique-Meade told her that SFCC CEO Heather Crawford had already been in communication with the ministry’s Permanent Secretary. Parris later told the media that he had inquired about the situation with Crawford, who in turn had contacted the PS. He said payment of salaries was an administrative function.
Ameen assured De Bique-Meade she was heading to Kent House to sign the cheque immediately. The union leader warned that if workers were not paid by yesterday, they would escalate their protest.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, De Bique-Meade confirmed that Ameen signed the cheque on Tuesday and instructed Crawford to send a driver to collect it. She said the cheque was deposited yesterday at Republic Bank.
“As I speak, the workers who get paid through Republic Bank have already received their salaries. Workers who bank with other banks are yet to receive because Republic Bank now has to send the remittance to the rest of banks so it is processed,” De Bique-Meade said.
She expected the remaining workers to receive their salaries later in the day. However, she said the union must confirm whether deductions owed to financial institutions from the previous fortnight were included in the cheque.
Looking ahead, De Bique-Meade warned that workers remain uneasy.
“The question they are asking me is, ‘Do we have to undergo the same thing?’ I cannot say. Also, there are still disgruntled because their sick leave bonus is outstanding and as I speak, we have not got any assurance of the releases to pay sick leave bonus, so that is still outstanding, and we have not had clearance as it relates to their remittance to their financial institutions that was not done last fortnight.”
She added that if salaries are not paid on time next Friday, she will contact Ameen directly, after the minister gave her personal number.
Calls to San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris went unanswered.
