PM: No dismissals at state corporation

By Linda Straker

WHILE the Union representing workers at the state-owned Gravel Concrete and Emulsion Corporation are claiming that 55 workers will be laid off as of next week Monday, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas is saying that such a decision was not made.

“There were no dismissals, it was a proposal and for now that is on hold,” Thomas told reporters on Tuesday during a news conference.

While the news conference was taking place, the workers of the corporation were marching through the streets of St. George’s demanding the Minister of Works use his authority to have the decision to terminate the staff be reversed.

According to Prime Minister Thomas, the decision to suspend the termination was made during Monday’s weekly Cabinet meeting. “We also appointed a Board of Directors and when the Board meeting (takes place) they will decide who is the Chairman,” he said.

However, when Union representatives and workers were informed of the Prime Minister’s declaration, they were all shocked as this was not communicated to them.

“The workers have letters in their hands signed by the manager,” said President of the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers’ Union. “The letter is clear, it says that they will be laid off as of November 5, 2012, so we don’t know what is going on, nothing was communicated to us.”

The workers don’t only want to see the reinstatement of their jobs, but they also want to see the re-appointment of a Board of Directors, whose duty ended months ago, as well as inclusion in Government contracts that the corporation, which is to become the chief supplier of construction materials, undertakes.