Category: Economy

This morning at eight a.m., the Christian workers Union and Social Security Board convened outside the Social Security Headquarters in Belmopan where they staged a peaceful protest. About thirty S.S.B. employees gathered in the hopes of meeting with their management in order to voice their displeasure on what they claim, is a recurring issue of unfair treatment of the union members and special allowances to nonmembers. This is what Leonora Flowers, President of the Christian Workers Union, had to say on the issue.

 

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union

“The inspectors have gathered out here today to voice and show their displeasure to management regarding an issue that  we were informed about.  They had made certain agreement with us when we queried an unfairness that was occurring and, unbeknownst to us, they changed on that plan. What was and is still so concerning is that this decision, the change occurred in a couple of days after we signed the agreement. So here we are chairing on SSB that we have signed our new CBA and then they’re changing the course on us. So we’re here gathered with our members to ensure that they know that  this cannot continue. We need to be respected and the integrity that they demand from our inspectors, we also demand it from the management and of Social Security. The CEO was gracious, she allowed us to voice our opinion, everyone who wanted to have a say was able to do that. And we were able to impress upon her our sentiments, deep, grave, concerning, and the kind of agitation that we’re prepared to put forward to ensure that we’re heard and our members get the justice that they deserve. All we want is fairness. All we’ve ever wanted is fairness from SSV. And we continue to stand on that. It went as planned, but we have to give management their time to meet with their with the management to meet among themselves and to come back to us. And that’s what, that’s what the CEO offered, that they will get back to us. We tried to tie her to a time. But in all fairness, she said she was unable to give us a time. But we are hoping that  the better judgment will rule out at the end of the day. The Act specifies certain things and we expect Social Security to live up to that”.

The Christian Workers Union’s issue with the treatment of S.S.B. staff by management does not stop at feeling disrespected. The union claims that the special allowances granted towards nonmembers are a subtle form of union busting. As per regulation, Social Security inspectors are to undergo a mandatory three-year rotation. However, one inspector has been given a six-year extension, and as another extension was approved, the union has had enough. Leonora Flowers, President of the Union had this to say on the matter.

 

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union

“It usually begins with a member getting their letter of transfer, sometimes  three, four months before that transfer is to take effect. It happens normally in the summer months so that people are able to take their children and their family, move families across the country. That has been going on for 42 years, since SSV began. It has only gone on that sometimes, a member spends an additional year over or under in a certain location. This specific person has spent nine years in one location and that has been the contention that we’re Out 4:38 looking at toda. It was brought up to them October 2022 and we discussed it in August and in September 23 and the decision was made. The person was not going to be transferred in September because it was too short a window. We agreed. But they decided that it would happen in January. We agreed to that. And we understand that the transfer letter was sent out.  Lo and behold, it was just rescinded a couple weeks ago. And you can, “the rest is history”. The person we’re talking about getting the special treatment is not a union member. So it goes without saying that our members will believe it’s union busting. If you can’t mete out the same kind of justice to everyone, then our members are at a loss. So it is union busting. Some may say no, but we believe that it is. The facts will show. We did not give an ultimatum. We’re leaving it for the management to decide and to use their better judgment, their best judgment in this situation. No need for ultimatum as yet. And we will not show our hands. We know what we have at our disposal. Our members are firm about this. They’ve given us a clear directive and we will continue to take a stand on their behalf”