It is now official that the majority of staff at telecommunications Company Marpin 2K4 Ltd will be taking a 10 percent pay cut.
This, after negotiations between the company’s board of directors and the bargaining agent representing the workers, the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU).
Speaking to DNO, Secretary/ Treasurer of WAWU, Keriste Augustus, said, the union met recently with the company’s board of directors to finalize the arrangement of the salary cut.
Under the agreement, staff, including management, will accept the pay cut, the matter will be reviewed at the end of the year and staff members who cannot sustain the pay cut “for one reason or the other” are not obliged to accept it. It was also agreed that during the months of April to December, when the cut is in effect, staff members would not be fired, unless they display serious misconduct.
Augustus said when negotiations began the union was concerned that information received indicated that management staff was not willing to take the pay cut.
“We had discussions with the board where we indicated that it is going to be unfair that only the bargaining staff would have to shoulder that responsibility,” he noted. ““We have since got them to influence the managerial staff to accept the 10 percent cut and our information is that since that time, the managerial staff has accepted that the 10 percent would apply to them the same way.”
He stated that WAWU requested management to have individual discussions with staff members who were unable to sustain the cut for one reason or the other and “it would put tremendous financial hardship on them.”
“So we proposed to management that they engage those workers, and in addition the management would also try to engage the institutions where these workers have hire purchase arrangements to so inform those institutions to try to have new financial arrangements with the workers,” Augustus explained.
He said the pay cut will be reviewed at the end of the year.
“We jointly have agreed and they have, in fact, put it in the letter that this position will be reviewed at the end of the year because we had information that sort of indicated that this cut would have been a permanent cut,” he noted.
Augustus said at least three members of the managerial staff have not accepted the cut because they have been taking on additional duties which would normally have been carried out by the general manager. Presently the company does not have a general manager.
He described this aspect of the agreement as a “trade off.”
“And that sort of equated to a no reduction …. the three were given additional responsibilities since a general manager has not been appointed,” he said.
Who Jah Bless no man Curse, God is on Mr Abraham’s side. It’s about time for him to be brought back.
Best thing to do now is give Mr Abraham Back his company. God is good, he will get it back! He will fix the problems! Who Jah bless, no man curse
Why is DNO telling us what WAWU says on the matter? WAWU is not the one managing Marpin! The Union is only responding to management’s initiatives. If DNO want’s to give us the truth about Marpin, please interview management.
I think it should start at the top “LEAD BY EXAMPLE” they should take the pay cut too no excuses why they shouldn’t everyone should be making the sacrifice, it’s not right on no level, when the review comes at the end of the year what goes for one should apply to all.
This just shows the state of the economy in Dominica, yet we continue to listen to the garbage let out by the labour government about how we are doing better than the other islands. What better, St Lucia marina is full, hotels are full yet we are doing better? Time for us to wake up
For a country we claim to be doing so well how is that companies are either closing down, cutting staff and now the latest- pay cuts. Can any strong supporter of this Government explain this to me?
These are indicators of a POOR Economy. Dominicans do not be fooled by all these projects which are being executed by chinesse nationals. It will be interesting to know what is our debt to china? WHOA WHOA something is happening but something which is really bad!!
When Mr Abraham wss there the business ran very smoothly now look what is happening alas
Stuff like that happen to companies all the time. It’s unfortunate ppl will have to take pay cut or lose their jobs. It won’t be the 1st nor the last. Companies rise and fall all the time.
Marpin’s service has been like blue-ray quality consistantly for the past couple of months. i can’t complain. i also like their selection of channels, well balanced.
maybe it’s time to bring back video club?
My Mother bless Her soul had an expression”Cutting your nose to spite your face”.This rings so true because the more they make workers take pay cuts the less social security will receive from the workers! The same social security is the owner of Marlin 2k4…………..
Everything is upside Down Every thing is inside out. There is so much to be said about this deal, its only the beginning. As stated management agreed to take a pay cut. I will believe when I see it. Stay tuned Dominica.
DIGICEL/SAT tv is here, so MARPIN is no more.
I hear LIME is preparing to make a purchase bid for MARPIN. Let’s see what happens before the end of the year.
U see how much of a bad deal this government through social security has made by acquiring Marpin? They played their dirty politics by all means necessary to get rid of Ron Abraham, see what’s happening to them now?Judgment and karma is never far away, what one sows one will definitely reap! Payday is here!
Skerrit for pm, Skerrit for pm, Dominica doing better than its neighbors
Are u serious….. tell me hw Dominica doin better dan Martinique and Guadeloupe dre……sot
That was satire. He meant, no more of skrit.
Aye las poor pity, u mean to tell me every year social security taking a 1/4 from our salary and now u reduce it by 10%, how will we send our children school, best buy close down, brisbane close down, Astaphans closing down, but we love our pm, sack way SOT DOminichen
Social Security should take a certain percentage based on income. It should be as income tax deduction based on income. I suppose this is D/ca and the amount will not be decreased. Nevertheless it is unfair to deduct the same amount when their pay is cut. You should look into this.
sorry man
thats unfair – everyone should take the pay cut especially managerial staff as they make the most money.
alas dominica finishing wiii
Read the article over
Even if u take a pay cut now u will eventually have to lay off staff next year due to inflation and the high cost of living thanks to skerrit, we love our pm.
By that time, LIME will be the owner. Trust me.
That is a joke right? Is this the source of marpin problems? what would the impact be will it be a short-term or a long-term impact or is this just a plaster on a cut that is getting larger. I predict that marpin will be no more by the end of the year when SAT/DIGICEL lunches its new service and agresively targets the customers of marpin which it should, its all business.
I smell another monopoly
No I smell competition. Marpin needs to put good channels like Hallmark, Geographic Network, Food network, BET Gospel and the Inspiration network.
LIME is positioning itself to make a bid for Marpin. To be in the government’s good books, they are giving away high priced services to the DLP like free wifi, free streaming on fiber optic and increased cell access at all DLP events. St. Joe was the first. More to follow.
So will DNO if it keeps up this practice of restricting some people from activitating thumbs up and down. A prediction. What goes around comes around.. The Lord is taking note.
Admin: Be careful about calling the name of The Lord in vain. DNO is not deliberately restricting anyone from using this feature, We’ve received some complaints and our IT department is looking into the matter.
This is by no means taking the Name of the Lord in vain. Every Christian of all should know that the Lord takes note of all we say and do whether it is good or bad. We cannot get away from his scrutiny, of the Holy Spirit. It is also stated in the Old Testament. Our actions, good or bad will determine that.
When people say “God” or “Jesus” for silly reasons or use them as a curse word, this is taking the Name of the Lord in vain and is punishable by him.
If I say “The Lord is taking note of all we say and do”, it is by no means taking his Name in vain. It is a message, a lesson for everyone who appears to have forgotten that. There are those who act in disguise and think that others are not smart enough to detect their tactics. God grants enlightenment to those who are open to him and his Word.
I am one of those who admonish some people, be it verbally for taking His Most Holy Name in vain. It is something I detest to hear. I know better about not taking his Name in vain for it is against The Second Commandment of God. I do not have to be reminded or told about it. My religious instructions from childhood have also exemplified it.
Furthermore, God knows our hearts if we are willfully doing something or not to hinder others in addition to not appreciating what they state. Some people just do not like to hear the truth and if they oppose what is stated. They do not stand up for genuine love, justice and peace.
It is now some days that some of us are not able to activate your thumbs up and down on your Website whereas others are able to do so. I wonder are they the local residents who are able to do so and are the non-local ones who are not able to do so and are prohibited from doing so?
A few days ago, someone else from overseas made that comment on your Website. Obviously, we are suspicious and must ask what is wrong. Have you prohibited us from doing so? Why are some able to access them and others are not? Is this not fishy?
Yours is the only Website we access which has this problem and sometimes consistently. It also includes change of words which we did not type. On more than occasion I have stated that is there a problem with your Server or is someone internally tampering with our writing to make some words appear wrong?
Approximately one year ago I recall reading on your Website that you warned some users or someone that you could curtail their access due to whatever it was they stated.
I very seldom complain to you. On the contrary I stood up for you when some users were critical.
I have a good memory as well. Yes! I eat my fruits and vegetables and even drink them. I do not take medication, thanks be to God. I am at peace. Therefore, my memory is working very well. Again, thanks be to God. It depends how we live and how we treat others for as I stated, “What goes around comes around in time” in whatever manner. I have confidence in that which in time do occur to people one way or the other as they deserve. This is why “it is always best to do good; far better.
My faith, hope and trust in the Lord and my confidence in him upholds me and keep me sane, thanks be to God. This is another reason I will never mention his Name in vain. I know when to mention his Name and when not to mention his Name.
In this case, I am certain, the Lord who knows, sees and hears all things knows very well what I stated, why I stated it and my feelings about it, He knows more than we do as His eyes are on all of us, watching us for our judgment and as I like to say, a mini one on this earth before we die. Therefore, the be all and end all of it all is, I am not and never will take his Most Holy Name in vain.
There is also an Ad on your Website which appears to be of a pornographic nature; the nature of the picture. Check your Ads.
This Simply The Truth woman is just a trouble maker.she is so SELF RIGHTEOUS yest she supports everything that is CORUPT.Lord have mercy on these people man.