UCASE says unionised staff at Spectrum Management Authority being victimised

By Prince Moore    

 

The Union of Clerical Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE) is calling for urgent intervention into what it says is a level of victimisation of staff at the Spectrum Management Authority since members have been unionised.

 

UCASE gained bargaining rights of the entity in September last year.

 

UCASE General Secretary John Levy says within a year, there have been a relatively high number of non-renewal of contracts affecting five senior managers, three of whom are members of the union.

 

Mr. Levy says these non renewals, which are effectively dismissals, have occurred despite the Ministry of Finance approving these posts as permanent positions at the entity. 

 

"These people who have been dismissed have scored high scores, 80s, 90s, yet still the management has taken it upon themselves to terminate the contract or don't renew those contracts that came up for renewal, for no reason whatsoever. The kind of frustration and victimisation that is taking place at the Spectrum Management Authority needs urgent intervention. The Minister is aware of it and we have asked the Ministry of Finance, through the Financial Secretary, Ms. Darlene Morrison, to attend with us on this matter," he said. 

 

He added that the union has called for the auditor general to do an assessment of the entity's employment practices and procedures. 

 

Mr. Levy said other staff members at Spectrum Management Authority have reportedly been experiencing high levels of intimidation since joining the union.

 

He said the environment at the facility has become toxic, and staff members are frustrated and demotivated by the ongoing vicitimisation.

 

He said the union's attorneys from the firm Hart, Muirhead and Fatta, have engaged the Ministry of Labour and Social Security over the dismissal of two of the managers.

 

But he noted that the issue remains unresolved since April this year.