Scotiabank workers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are expected to call in sick, on today (Tuesday), for a second consecutive day, in an attempt to pressure the bank to pay outstanding wages dating back to 2008.
An employee at the bank, who spoke to iWitness News on condition of anonymity, accused the bank of “corporate rape”.
The employee said the bank’s staff worked from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. with one hour’s lunch, although, under the labour laws passed in 2008 they should have worked for eight hours, including one hour’s lunch.
And with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank having approved Republic Bank’s acquisition of Scotiabank in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, the workers are fearful that they might be left holding the bag.
“It is time we play the media card because Scotiabank is getting away with rape, slavery. I think it is corporate rape,” the employee said, adding that some employees could be entitled to tens of thousands of dollars in back pay.
Meanwhile, Joseph “Burns” Bonadie, whose Commercial, Technical, and Allied Workers Union represents the Scotiabank employees in SVG, told iWitness News on Monday that he was not aware of a ‘sick out’ at the bank.
“I don’t know nothing about no sick out,” he told iWitness News, but said that the bank had contacted him saying that about 75% of the workers had called in sick.
“What I can tell you, [is that] the collective agreement says an employee can stay home two days without a medical certificate, but, on the third day, they have to submit a medical certificate under the terms of the agreement. That is what the law says,” Bonadie told iWitness News.
In explaining the labour issue at the bank, Bonadie said the Wages Council Act of 2008 regulates work for certain categories of employees.
There was, however, a question as to whether banks were covered under the act, which was revised in 2017, with the only the changes relating to wages and not hours of work.
Bonadie told iWitness News that bank workers earn far more than the minimum wage, but the hours of work in the revised law remained the same, namely, eight hours per day, inclusive of a lunch hour.
He, however, said that in banks in SVG, employees were working nine hours a day.
The union put it to the bank that they had to pay the employees for the additional one hour per workday, commencing in 2008.
Bonadie’s union met with all the banks, which attempted to invoke the limitation clause, constraining the number of years for which the workers could claim additional pay.
The banks argued that the period for which they owed back pay was from 2017, when the order was revised, and not 2008.
Bonadie said that his union met with Republic Bank, which will take over the contract and the employees at Scotiabank and Republic Bank has made it clear that they will not inherit the overtime payment issue.
“In other words, it (the wage issue) must be settled and we signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect, that nothing will be going over.”
Bonadie told iWitness News that the banks have not provided the legal opinion that they said they would obtain on the issue.
He, however, said Attorney General Jaundy Martin has provided his union with a legal opinion.
“And his legal opinion, in my view, I think he wanted to do a balancing act between the bank and union. In one part, he said it could apply…”
Bonadie said Scotiabank agreed that the minimum wage order applies and this was included in the new collective bargaining agreement.
“Now, they agreed to pay from the commencement of the collective agreement, which was from 2018.”
Bonadie said the union rejected that offer and last week Scotiabank said they were prepared to pay the additional time from 2017, when the new order was published.
The union boss, however, noted that the new order included the same hours of work as the 2008 statute.
He said the union also found the bank’s subsequent proposal unacceptable and is demanding that employees be paid for the six years ending 2017.
Bonadie said that the negotiations are being held with Scotiabank’s Jamaica-based regional human resource manager, who is also regional director of labour relations, as well as the senior manager for labour relations and the director of human resources, both of whom are based in Barbados.
He said that after a conference call on Friday, during which he rejected the bank’s offer to pay from 2017 onward, he met with the Scotiabank employees.
He said he then wrote to Scotiabank saying that it must honour the agreement it signed.
Bonadie said that he got a call Monday morning from the bank’s Jamaica office informing about employees calling in sick in St. Vincent.
“I tell her I don’t know nothing about that. I don’t know one thing about that,” Bonadie said, and noted to iWitness News the law on staying away from work.
He said he also got a call from the labour commissioner saying that the bank had called the Minister of Labour and wanted a meeting with the bank and the union.
“It’s meet I want to meet,” Bonadie told iWitness News.
He said he could not comment on iWitness News’ information that the staff was planning to call in sick on Tuesday also.
Bonadie, however, said that the bank told him last week that they were exiting SVG on Oct. 31 and Dominica, St. Lucia, and Grenada on Sept. 30.
“And to my consternation, on Friday or Thursday, I was told that the manager had a meeting with the staff to inform them that the bank was exiting at the end of September.”
Bonadie said he immediately called the human resource personnel who told him it seems that the bank was moving at a faster rate and Bonadie had information that they did not have.
“And I am not doubting them,” Bonadie said, adding that the bank might be moving in this direction having secured the approval of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank for their acquisition by Republic Bank.
“But what made it even worse in my view, in terms of our relationship, is that the bank in Trinidad sending in people for training on Thursday.
“All of that, they never informed me. So I say, well, if that is the case, they have to be crazy. So our position is that if they are going to exit, I told the shop steward at the bank to inform the manager that nobody putting on Republic Bank uniform. They have to settle. So that was conveyed. So they took objection to me giving that message to the shop steward,” Bonadie said.
The trade unionist told iWitness News that he wrote the bank a letter saying that the union is of the view that the important matters of money due to staff was being side-lined and it thought that finalising that issue would have paved the way for a smooth transition.
The letter further said that in light of the foregoing, the union was urging the bank to ensure that the MOU is honoured, Bonadie said.
“The union is surprised that coming to the end of our cordial relationship the bank is now wavering on its stated agreement and commitment. It is difficult for our members to participate fully during the transition period when they are owed money from the exiting bank,” Bonadie quoted the letter as saying.
The letter said that the union’s concerns were raised with the country manager through the shop steward, as is customary in forging a good relationship.
“It is now difficult for the union to reconcile your current actions with your stated commitments and the union’s compromised position,” Bonadie said, adding that the union had compromised in saying it would take the limitation clause into consideration.
He pointed out that while the issue with Scotiabank is coming to a head because it is exiting the market, the issue remains with all other banks in St. Vincent.
Bonadie, however, said that his union was mindful of the cost to the banks, noting that Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has over 200 employees.
“As a trade unionist, I am prepared to compromise. But I am not going to be dealing with all of them one time. I am dealing with the one that is leaving,” Bonadie told iWitness News.
When iWitness News contacted manager of Scotiabank in St. Vincent, Pam Herbert-Daniel at 2:34 p.m. Monday, she said she was expecting a call at 2:30 p.m. and asked that we call back one hour later.
However, calls to her number at 3:24 p.m. and 3:55 p.m. went to a voice mail.
We left with Herbert-Daniel a cell phone number indicating that she could call any time with any comments her bank might have on the issue.
We have not been able to reach Herbert-Daniel again up to the time of publication.
I often wonder why Vincy can’t attract more businesses because there’s lots of places where people work 6 days a week so y not advertise that free day of labor for prospective investors?That should go along way in attracting investors. Ha !Ha!
And so, the workers are hung out to dry . . .
In the interest of transparency, Joseph BURNS Bonadie’s mother and my paternal great grandmother, Winifred Spring-Young of Caratal Village, Georgetown, were reportedly sisters.
Cheers. Remember that morally, spiritually and theologically, a worker is worthy of his/her hire. Do not hold back good/wages from those to whom it is due.
‘Cus Ralphie, please tek note. Ever since 1999 .. . Pobre Teachers, Civil Servants, Nurses and Police. Oh, how nostalgically we patiently wait for a modern “Pucinelli Salaries Report”.
Which never come . . .
Always,
Steve Huggins.
Former SVUT National General Council member;
Former President, SVUT -North Windward Branch Executive;
Former Assistant Treasurer, SVG Teachers’ College Students’ Assembly;
Former Shop Steward of the Year, SVUT, North Windward Branch.
WHEN WORKERS or MANAGEMENT ARE DOMINANT.
There are a multiple of reasons other than sky high taxes why investors would shun SVG my dear MIKE WEIB, the first of which and which would come very high on the list of any investor seeking to establish a new business is the calibre of our Government here.
Have you not noticed who runs SVG and how the nation’s affairs are conducted? Look at Venezuela the closest friend of our Government; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1gUR8wM5vA&vl=en and whom we are inclined to follow for economic wisdom.
With a family run regime espousing pseudo Marxist ideology, it is hard to imagine why any self-respecting capitalist would want to embark on risking their “hard cash”, in a country steep in nepotism and crony capitalism, coupled with a poorly educated workforce, who are more nurtured in the art of begging rather than that of self-help or work ethics.
The Bank staff should hold the Union at Ransom. I am almost sure that the Union would have received a copy of this legislation in 2008. So the STAFF OUGHT to be paid from 2008. Workers of the banks have been working the stipulated time from 7:45AM to 4:30PM way before 2008.
The workers should NEVER allow the union to do any ‘bartering.’ The union must stand up for the workers and get the full compensation. No foolishness now about ‘statute of limitations.’
Bankers, demand full compensation from 2008!! You have the power in your fists!!
People like Burns always want to play with people future to stay relevant in the sight of everyone!!
No Sellout!!!
Mr JAMES H it seems like you need a female companion.that would help with the anger.you are very educated just like the PM.But the two of you lack understanding.about life happyness.So stop looking left and pray for a good female.
Well MR MAC, the truth has a way of making uneasy reading for some! With a family dictatorship at the helm of SVG Ltd, Crony Capitalism and gross Nepotism have now been given free reign here. Have we not seen the comings and goings of Mr. WISE, David Aimes, and lately Land sales in Peters Hope that raises many questions? And sadly, what quality of education can you say there is, in the few that is in our working population, and who mainly works for government here?
Nepotism and cronyism has a way of frustrating the benefits of real Capitalism as was intended by Adam Smith in; “The Wealth of Nations” that is the magnum opus of that Scottish Economist. First published in 1776. That book offers one of the world’s first collected descriptions of what builds a nations’ wealth, and is today a fundamental work in classical economics.
Here MR MAC is a talks about ‘Crony Capitalism’ through the auspices Chicago Booth School of Business. A public lecture, hosted at IIM Bangalore, Luigi Zingales, Robert C. McCormack Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance at the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business, a talks about ‘Crony Capitalism’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RlOzFcZIeI
MR MAC, it is my opinion that the excessive Tax burden on the fragile SVG economy, as all could see, coupled with an almost primitive work culture and a selfish political dictatorship, continues to act as a dissuading influence on any would be investor looking for a return on their investment. Whatever field they choose to invest in here. https://www.adamsmith.org/the-wealth-of-nations Moreover the education revolution likewise continues to be just talk only as all encounters in the workplace here demonstrates!