• Latest
Grenada Court Rules Against Liquidator

High Court to hear government injunction to stop essential workers from protesting

2 years ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 14 April

2 hours ago
Grenada to provide $1 million in support to St Vincent

Grenada to provide $1 million in support to St Vincent

4 hours ago
Grenada Court Rules Against Liquidator

Coroner’s inquest to determine cause of death for Jimmy Fraser

5 hours ago
Sex Crimes Unit data shows men over 50 attracted to minors under 8

Sex Crimes Unit data shows men over 50 attracted to minors under 8

6 hours ago
Police Commissioner Edvin Martin appointed to the post

COP concerned about disrespecting police officers

6 hours ago
Caribbean Agro Industries supports school feeding programme

Caribbean Agro Industries supports school feeding programme

9 hours ago
HE Lilian Chatterjee is Canada’s High Commissioner to Grenada

HE Lilian Chatterjee is Canada’s High Commissioner to Grenada

12 hours ago
Over 800 swimmers! Big thanks to Swim Week volunteers!

Over 800 swimmers! Big thanks to Swim Week volunteers!

12 hours ago
JJRP rehabilitated and reintegrated over 200 Grenadian Youth in conflict with the law!

JJRP rehabilitated and reintegrated over 200 Grenadian Youth in conflict with the law!

13 hours ago
More Teachers to be Regularised

Public schools to reopen without enforcing Covid-19 physical distancing protocol

1 day ago
Developing Resilient Marine Economies: UK supports Small Island Developing States in the Commonwealth Caribbean

UK assists response to St Vincent volcano eruption

1 day ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 13 April

1 day ago
NOW Grenada

Main Header Ad 468x60

booked.net
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

Article Header

High Court to hear government injunction to stop essential workers from protesting

This story was posted 2 years ago
18 November 2018
in General News
3 min. read
Share

by Linda Straker

  • High Court to hear injunction arguments at 3 pm today
  • Judge Paula Gilford will hear matter via video conference

The High Court has scheduled 3 pm today Sunday, 18 November to hear arguments in an injunction filed by the government that will stop some public workers who are employed in the essential services area, from participating in the ongoing industrial protest.

The Labour Relations Act No 15 of 1999, provides for an employer to approach the court for an order to protect the public from being unduly affected by an industrial protest involving essential workers.

According to the legislation which received objection from Chester Humphrey – the then representative of the Trade Union Council in the Upper House of Parliament, essential workers are those working in the following fields: electricity, water, public health protection services including sanitation; hospital and nursing; airport; seaport and dock services including pilotage fire; air traffic control; telephone, telegraph and overseas telecommunication; prisons and police.

Government and trade unions representing public workers are presently are at a standstill in negotiations for the reformation of pension and gratuity for retired officers. In 1983 the then People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) approved legislation which created the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) that will provide a pension for all retired officers who contribute a minimum of 500 contributions.

Government also approved the pension disqualification act which put as zero the amount Government needs to pay to public officers at the time of retirement. The law went into effect in February 1985 by the then Herbert Blaize New National Party administration.

This was challenged in the court by an officer following her retirement, and the court ordered that she receive her pension and gratuity, based on the year she became an established worker in the system.

The present Keith Mitchell Administration announced in February 2018 that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to restore and reform the pension for workers. Pension was restored to retired officers who joined Government employment before 1985.

The union and government then began negotiations for workers who joined the service after February 1985. The unions are asking for 25% gratuity, but government said it could only afford 2% based on its present and projected financing ability.

The Grenada Union of Teachers was the first to announce its intention to be off the job for 2 days during the first week of November. By the second week, workers of the Public Workers Union (PWU) joined in the protest.

On Friday, 16 November the unions announced that they would be off the job on Monday, 19 November and would have a mass rally on Tuesday, 20 November for public workers.

During last Tuesday’s post-cabinet briefing, Planning Minister Oliver Joseph said the Government’s Negotiating Team wants the union to return to negotiating table.

However, Lydon Lewis, President of the GUT said his union would only return if government accepts the 25% as proposed. A meeting with the Labour Commissioner to resolve the impasse concluded in a walk-out as unions first want government to agree to the 25% gratuity to continue negotiations.

On 13 November, government said it would move to protect people’s healthcare at the General Hospital and other facilities, should top medical officials join a call for industrial action by the Public Workers Union (PWU).

“There are restrictions on industrial action in essential services such as the health sector,” said a government statement disseminated through the Government Information Service (GIS). The release explained that the ruling administration is concerned that the healthcare of ordinary Grenadians could be compromised by action that is not legal under the labour statutes.

Judge Paula Gilford will hear the matter via video conference.

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.

Tags: gratuityhigh courtinjunctionlabour relations actlinda strakerpaula gilfordpensionunion
Next Post
Maturine-Stewart: Transportation infrastructure from sister isles to be addressed

Injunction hearing re-scheduled to Wednesday

Comments 1

  1. Aloysious Paul says:
    2 years ago

    It is clear that the unions are greedy and itching for a fight. No well run pension system will allow you to get advances on your pension. At retirement you have an option for a lump sum of about 30-35% of what you put in with lower monthly pension or you forego the lump sum option with higher monthly pension payments. The Government of Grenada under the superb and highly competent leadership of Dr. Keith Mitchell should remove pension payments from general revenues or from the consolidated fund, establish a National Pension Fund with contributions from both employers and employees, which will be invested, and establish the lump sum option at retirement. No gratuity payments. The retirement age should also be raised to 65 or 67 years.

    It is often said that the mark of a great general is knowing when to fight but most importantly knowing when not to fight. Given that it is this Keith Michell led government that has initiated the whole issue of pension restoration and reform, this is not an issue on which unions should be resorting to industrial action. Negotiate. Negotiate. Negotiate.

    Rear Guard.
    Long Island, NY.

    Reply

Comment on story Cancel reply

Please enter your valid email address.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Home Sidebar NP 300x250

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

NOW Grenada
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.