Several employees of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) with the approval of their union, yesterday took protest action at what they termed “the unfair arrest and incarceration” of their colleague.
The man was released on bail yesterday afternoon without being charged after being detained over the weekend. The workers went home in protest yesterday.
The incident was sparked by the incarceration of the employee at the Ruimveldt Police Outpost since Friday, said Kenneth Joseph, General Secretary of the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE). He said the man, an inspector, was held after several radios went missing at the NFMU. He told Stabroek News that about 16 workers took part in the industrial action, while Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NFMU, Valmikki Singh said that less than a dozen workers were involved.
In a press release, the union said the “accepted procedure of proper investigation was not followed”, a charge dismissed by Singh, who declared that the workers and the union did not follow procedure in taking their action. The CEO told Stabroek News that he is not sure NAACIE and the workers are fully aware of the situation that led to the arrest of the man. He said the unit had suffered a loss of items and a report was made to the police. This, he pointed out, was what any organization, which had experienced such an incident, would do.
The union, in its statement, said it viewed the behaviour of the CEO as an abuse of authority even as it recognized the need for the safety and security of the unit’s assets. “Careful thought was not given before the action of incarceration of the worker was taken. In fact, it appears that it was arranged that on Friday afternoon the arrest would cause the worker to be held over the weekend by the police…,” it said. Joseph told this newspaper that Singh had accompanied the police to the inspector’s home, where he was arrested. Singh, however, asserted that it was not an abuse of authority. He stated that he was doing what the police had requested him to do.
NAACIE said that the worker was detained on Friday and up to yesterday “he was not charged or even questioned but still in the lock-ups”.
Joseph told this newspaper that when the inspector in the course of doing his duty, seizes radios, these are handed over to the CEO for safekeeping. He said it appears that there were some radios that were unaccounted for, but he did not know how many. Noting that since being detained, the inspector was not charged, he said, “He is being punished already”.
The general secretary added that the man recently became affiliated with NAACIE. “He should not have been abused in that way”, he stated asserting that the union could have been called in. Such actions, he declared, had the effect of causing others to be afraid. The man had worked with NFMU for over 15 years, he disclosed. He said that the workers who took industrial action had the full support of the union.
The statement said Joseph was “refused” an audience with the NFMU Head yesterday morning to discuss the incident adding that the behaviour of the CEO had “provoked” the workers into taking the industrial action. Joseph explained to this newspaper that he went to see Singh yesterday morning but was told that the CEO was not in a position to see him.
However, Singh said Joseph went to his office around 9 am yesterday but he was “in the middle of something” and he indicated that he would see him later in the morning. He did not refuse to see Joseph, he declared, adding that he could not have seen him at that time.
Singh said the NFMU had not been informed in writing of any protest but when the workers left, he was informed by the staff who remained that “some staff members walk off the job”. Asked whether he would be speaking with the union, Singh said he had later called Joseph and the union leader informed him that he was in the process of issuing a press release and did not have time to speak with him. “He closed that option”, he stated noting that there were procedures to follow and “staff going off like this is breaching procedure”. Joseph said last evening that the union was willing to discuss the issue noting that this was the only way the situation could be resolved. He said the union would support any action that the workers desire.
Meantime, Singh said that the NFMU is still functioning.
