PSU Slams “Deficient” Transport Investment Bill

The Public Service Union says the proposed Public Transportation Investment Bill leaves too many questions unanswered about the workers who could be affected. In particular, the union is questioning what happens to their jobs, pensions and other benefits if the Terminal Management Unit is effectively abolished. PSU President Dean Flowers says the legislation does not adequately protect those rights.

 

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“Our concern is that if you look at the bill does not apparently address the interests and more so the rights of the workers that they are entitled to. These workers hold pensionable office, and I think that it’s important for me to point out whether fairly or unfairly, I just find it strange that over the last two or three weeks there has been mass firings. The union received several letters out of Orange Walk. This morning I got one out of Corozal whereby these people are just being terminated. But nonetheless, for those workers who remain we need to know exactly what’s the plan, and the bill simply says you can apply into the wider public service, or you can transfer and all your rights and interests remain if you transfer.” But the terms and conditions that exist in the public service Currently are not the terms and conditions that the employees under the National Bus Company enjoy. So we cannot- we’re unable to reconcile how that will ultimately work. If you’re going to abolish their office, which is what we view this as, the abolishment of office, then the Pensions Act requires you to calculate their pension that becomes due based on their years of service and that these people should commence collecting a pension based on their years of service. Now, under the Labor Act, if you look at 45(3), it speaks to redundancy. And even if the department wanted to say its redundancy, whether it’s redundancy versus abolition of office, in our view, it’s it doesn’t matter. You are bringing your the establishment of the NBC pretty much abolishes what is currently the Terminal Management Unit. But you are required by law to now pay severance to these people.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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