UPDATE: Forced to retire BVIPA workers get 3-mth payout; still unhappy
“But they still being unfair to us when it comes to our pension that they had taken away from us and they saying that they don’t owe us for that,” added the dissatisfied worker.
Eight workers were given letters indicating that effective January 31, their service with the Port Authority would have come to an end. Of the eight, five (5) were retired since November of 2006, one (1) 2007, one (1) in 2008 and the other only became eligible for retirement in December, 2012.
Contacted yesterday January 25, 2013, both Chairman of the BVI Ports Authority and Director for the Board of BVI Porst Authority Mr Edward DeCastro and Mr Claude Skelton-Cline, respectively, confirmed that a decision has been made to send seven of the eight workers off with a three month package equivalent to their monthly payments. The 8th will not benefit from the concessionary pay-out because his service would be retained.
Mr DeCastro said that following consultations with the board and the "Minister responsible", the decision was made to grant the the departing workers the three months packages. He said that this was conveyed to the workers on an individual basis at a meeting on January 22, 2013.
“They apologised to us, both the Minister and the man Cline said that they didn’t like the way the whole thing was done and something about HR,” said the soon to be retiree.
“What they didn’t agree to is to give us our pension, that was taken from us.” He explained that after attaining the age of 60 years and served retirement letters five years ago, he was recalled to serve under the term of temporary employment. “Mind you, not as a contract employee. If we were contracted we know that position would have been lawful but not under the condition of a temporary employee.”
“They took that from us, when all the other staff were given bonuses and other incentives, we got nothing, now tell me what’s right about that? They owe us what we rightfully earned and they should be loyal enough to give us our due, it just a few not a band of fifty or a hundred of us why they can’t give us our money?” stressed the employee.
In the view of the BVI Ports Authority, releasing workers who would have attained the age of retirement opens opportunities for others. "It is our goal to continue the assessment of the BVI Ports Authority thereby enabling it to become more user friendly, efficient and provide opportunity for new hire," Mr Claude Skelton-Cline had told Virgin Islands News Online. When asked yesterday for an update on the transition of BVI Ports Authority as he had alluded to previously, she said “There is nothing to report as it relates to that right now.”
See previous article posted on January 17, 2013
BVI Platinum News dead wrong with ports article!- Skelton-Cline
Pro- Government news site now accused of inaccurate reporting for 3rd time in many months
Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority, Claude Skelton-Cline has harshly refuted inaccurate reporting by the pro-Government news site BVI Platinum News in an article published on January 16, 2013 headlined; ‘Breaking News; Workers Sent Packing From Ports Authority’.
Mr Skelton-Cline said contrary to what was reported by BVI Platunum News, there were only eight (8) employees served retirement letters. In breaking down the categories, he stated that of the eight, five (5) were retired since November of 2006, one (1) 2007, one (1) in 2008 and the other only became eligible for retirement in December, 2012.
The eight employees were served with the letters sometime last week. The letters indicated that their tenure with the entity would come to an end effective January 28, 2013 as they had reached the age of retirement.
The Pro-Government news site has been accused of inaccurate reporting over the past months.
In October of last year, BVI Platinum News falsely and inaccurately reported that a libel case had been won against this news site and that the court was to award damages. No such thing accorded. While a default judgment was granted because those involved failed to file two pieces of document on time, the court never moved to the stage of requiring the assessment of any damages. The matter is still at the level of the Court of Appeal.
Following that they did not stop with the inaccurate reporting. In November of last year, they reported a false story on the reigning Miss BVI Sharie B. de Castro in which they claimed she was unhappy with the car arrangement between her and the VI Festival and Fairs Committee.
Miss de Castro subsequently released a press statement and had an interview with Virgin Islands News Online disputing the pro-Government news site BVI Platinum's inaccurate reporting about the car situation.
BVI Ports Authority dismissals tasteless
Meanwhile, the letters served to the employees who have reached the age of retirement were not necessarily received with outstretched hands.
"It’s ok for me but the way they did things was totally tasteless, absolutely tasteless," was the expression of one person who was served his letter of retirement from the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA).
"To the extent that anyone feels injured by the process of being released, I express my empathy and apology that they feel that way," said Mr Skelton-Cline in an interview with Virgin Islands News Online on January 16, 2013.
He said that of the eight, he has had audience with three of them as they did express discomfort about having to leave the entity at this time. He did not go into details about his discussions with those individuals but said that Ports Authority has agreed to give two of the eight persons a "Mercy Gratuity".
Under this arrangement, the two would be given full insurance coverage for two years because of their “circumstances”. Asked to explain those circumstances, Mr Skelton-Cline said, "No I can't do that, you wouldn't want me to do that, no I can't."
The Managing Director explained that the BVI Ports Authority has followed due process and everyone would have been appropriately given their retirement letters. He acknowledged that matters of retirement and Human Resources are usually very sensitive and they intended to take due care with each individual.
In the view of the BVI Ports Authority, releasing workers who would have attained the age of retirement opens opportunities for others. "It is our goal to continue the assessment of the BVI Ports Authority thereby enabling it to become more user friendly, efficient and provide opportunity for new hire," said Mr Claude Skelton-Cline.
While they are not prepared to have their identities revealed at this stage, some of the workers with whom this news agency spoke with said that being served retirement letters at this time came as a total shock and noted that they intended to plead their case with the Authority.
One of the retired employees said he feels he is qualified to retain his post for at least one more year, according to his employment booklet. While not being in a position to quote the booklet directly, he explained that it gives provision for a person having attained the age of retirement to be considered to remain on the job given that he is of good health.
“But the thing is that this is at the consideration of the Director because he would have to make that decision and from what I read he has to know of you and your performance before making his decision.” The man said that he intend to engage the Director Mr. Claude Skelton-Cline on this ground. “He does not know me, he don’t know of my competence because he is very new but I want to continue to work I am in excellent shape and health to work,” said the employee.
“The desk serve me letter, I came into my office and there was the letter,” said another. “Come on we are human beings with blood running through our veins and boy we should be treated as such,” he added.
The obviously angry worker said that he and others were well aware that at some time or the other they would have to come off, “….but how you do things is very important,” he said. The upset individual said there is no doubt that he is of great value to the BVI Ports Authority because, after he had attained the age of retirement five years ago, he was recalled to continue to work.
“I am a no-nonsense person and anyone at Ports Authority would tell you that I take my job seriously and execute in a manner that defends the integrity of Ports Authority to the maximum,” he explained. According to him, when he was recalled he was not employed as a contract employee but rather as a temporary employee. “I endured so much injustice here, when they give pay-out I didn’t get a cent, two times they give it and I here and not a cent of incentive,” he claimed.
Another concern raised by those with whom Virgin Islands News Online spoke to, is the issue of not being able to access their insurance until they would have attained the age of 65. “You retire at sixty and can’t get your insurance until you are sixty-five years old, what’s that, they should bring both on par and then most people wouldn’t have a problem of going off when they reach sixty,” a sentiment expressed by one man and echoed by others.
There was also the concern that the BVI Ports Authority might be engaged in a brain-drain exercise since the sacked employees said there has been no obvious training for persons that are likely to take up the void that will be created after January 28, 2013.
“The other thing we hearing un-officially is that they planning some retirement dinner for us, but they better save their time and money because they going attend that and eat that food themselves.” Asked why they would not attend if the rumor turns out to be true, one man said, “Because of what we have been saying all along, why they didn’t call all of us to a meeting to discuss having to send us off in a nice and comfortable manner and then tell us about the plan for a farewell dinner or whatever?” he asked.
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40 Responses to “UPDATE: Forced to retire BVIPA workers get 3-mth payout; still unhappy”
Which news site can I trust? VINO ALL THE WAY
But what I will add is that if these employees are at the retirement age, let them retire. I agree that the methodology may be wrong, but the fact is that they are of retirement age.
The young need employment and we should be about helping the young acquire employment.
Now if this policy could just be executed across the board in Government, why, there may not be an under employment issue with our young!
I appreciate the clarification of this story and the details that have come out since announcement. Generally speaking, I still think that graciousness in change maintains a feeling of well-being and appreciation. Why would you want to disrespect your experienced workforce- dismiss them with the after thought of a retirement dinner. I think they all should have been called in and talked to about changes under a new director. That is legit. Seems there are some extenuating circumstances in individual issues. That is valid.
I do think there is a problem with losing experienced workers with the history of the job, it's previous problems and solutions. Chances are, nothing was written down and mistakes are bound to be repeated. Cline now has the advantage of surrounding himself with young, ambitious world seekers high on big development without historic context.
An entity cannot be operated with 19th century rules, point blank. I agree there is a procedure to follow for any issue. But come on, regardless of how it was done, Tortola people want their a$$es kissed. Let them live in another part of the world, they would go in and security would meet them at the door with their personal belongings. THE FACT IS THEY WERE ALREADY RETIRED. The primary principle of an employer/employee relationship - it's an "at will" relationship, meaning either can give notice of their termination. Tolians gripe and moan about no jobs for young people and those who have attained retirment age prefers to see their grandchildren home or on the corner and they are going to work. Meanwhile giving the same grandchildren $20 or $30 here and there. Once the Director complied with the rules of the Employee handbook, the Department should be in good standing. Stand your ground director.
the issue was not how long ago the workers fell for retirement. The issue was the fact that they were given letters without at least 3 months notice, which they believe they should have been entitled to. The process is the problem. Now someone else is saying that their competence to stay on the job was not considered and was due to be considered year on year. And elsewhere, its saying that Skelton-Cline held audience with only 3 of the 8, AFTER THE FACT MIND U, and then offered 2 a 'mercy gratuity?'...based on their 'discomfort?' What about the others' discomfort? What about their right to be heard? What kind of weeshy washy vibes is this? What is the due process to be followed? Where is the standards here? Sounds like 'wrongul dismissal' any which way you look at it.
Three months pay out cant go wrong with that. So whats the issue here again.
u full of $h#@ always talking bout the expat, alyou dont have anything to talk bout