Port workers dismissals hard to challenge – Union

by Christina Smith

The National Workers Movement (NWM) has weighed heavily and decided it is not in the best interest of the Union to challenge the dismissal of workers at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority SVGPA who were found removing items “without authorization”.

The March 5, 2024 incident, which was initially reported on by a local media house last week, involved five workers from the Campden Park Container Port who were caught dismantling a pallet and removing various items including chainsaws, weed whackers, pot sets, microwaves, air fryers, and other household items. The pallet had apparently been housed in the shed for more than two years and the workers had been given instructions to dismantle it for the items to be auctioned off.

One of the five workers is represented by the NWM and general secretary, Noel Jackson said the Union had been called upon to seek advice in this matter. Jackson revealed that he met with two of the aggrieved workers earlier this week and a decision was taken not to advocate for them.

“I am convinced that the integrity of the Union would be compromised if I go forward and make representation on this issue.”

SEARCHLIGHT understands that there was damning evidence against the workers, in the form of footage from inside the shed. This footage shows the workers dismantling the pallet, taking the items to the supervisor’s office, then loading them into various private vehicles which had been driven up to the shed and then transporting them off the Port’s compound.

The media report quoted one of the workers as saying that they had been given permission to take any items they desired; however, Jackson said based on the years of experience of the workers, they should have known that this was not proper operational procedure.

Port Management last Friday, April 19,2024, terminated the service of five employees, one of whom was a supervisor.

The dismissal letter from the Port Management and signed by Manager, Human Resource & Corporate Affairs at the SVG Port Authority, De-Aon Sayers said: “You however maintained that only empty boxes were dismantled and/or removed from the Port’s compound. You further advised that some of the boxes were used to stage a scene as though items were being stolen to ‘give employees things to talk about on the Port’. In a second meeting on April 05, 2024 in the presence of the Chief Executive Officer, Manager – Human Resource & Corporate Affairs and the Operating Officer (ag), you were given the opportunity to view the footage taken from the Port’s surveillance cameras on March 05, 2024. The footage showed the following: the cargo was shrink wrapped, intact and the cartons were all sealed/unopened. The pallets were broken down and you assisted in taking cargo to the supervisor’s office. Vehicles were brought to the shed thereafter; cargo was loaded by yourself and other employees and left without following the required Port cargo exit procedure.”

The letter described the workers’ actions as a “gross breach of the SVG Port Authority’s Code of Discipline” and said that the workers committed numerous violations against the organization’s policies, namely dishonesty, removing the Company’s property without permission, failure to observe the rules, corrupt Practice, as well as making false statements.