Unionized Staff of the AID Bank in Dominica are now on a “sick out” as they continue to protest the decision of the bank’s Board under the chairmanship of Martin Charles to reject their salary proposal.
The National Workers Union (NWU), which represent the workers, wrote to the board through the general manager, Julius Corbett, requesting a salary increase of 4 percent, 0 percent and 0 percent for the period July 2012 to June 2015 respectively.
But in a letter to the union Corbett stated that “at a meeting of the Board held June 24, 2015, the Board discussed the above proposal by the National Workers Union and decided that the unionized staff would be granted increases of 0 percent, 3.5 percent and 0 percent for the period July 2012 to June 2015.”
Additionally, the letter stated, for the next two years, that is 2015 to 2016 and 2016 to 2017, salary increases would remain at 0 percent.
But staff members were not happy with the proposal and to add insult to injury, they say the bank’s board will be traveling on an all expense paid cruise on July 4.
“This is disrespectful … we will not accept this, the Board is rude,” two staff, speaking on conditions of anninimity stated.
Presently the staff at the AID bank is now skeleton in protest.
take what allu get suckerz
AID Bank staff seems to be very brave. The events from Salisbury should be a lesson. Go back to work before SSU come and pelt you with expired tear gas! You are note allowed to ‘demonstrate’ any form of dissatisfaction especially when you prevent people from getting their money!
Add to that, the Board was approved a 33 percent raise increase by the shareholders. That cannot be right magweh sah. The bank can be doing so well to justify a 33 percent for the board but doing too poorly for the staff. That is sad
Well, the shareholder is the govt, so it is friend Skerrit that approved that if it is true.
AID BANK is a rip-off anyways. Milking the crap out of students with student loans. And some of the employees there don’t even know how to offer customer service. so rude and disgusting. they deserve what they get. take that
Shut up. Like I said below. Aid bank didnt come in your mother house and put a gun to your head and tell you take the loan. YOU SIGNED FOR THE TERMS AND CONDITTIONS. Nothing has changed from the day you signed. You went and study and apparently it was a waste of money
The bank reported profits in 2011 and 2012. We have to assume that profits were made in 2013 and 2014 because the bank is involved in the hiring of young people through the NEP program. According to certain Dominicans, free money for certain DLP supporters. Them fellers and their loved ones like Martin, Corbett can go wine and dine on a cruise at the expense of the bank, while the employees who are doing the real hard word are catching hell. I wish to advise the employees to take things in their own hands, because Dominicans know where the union boss bread is buttered.
The employees cannot get a simple raise but the AID Bank hired 8 NEP interns recently. Makes no sense, a decision just to make the PM and NEP look good.
Did they have that many vacancies? Well, either business must be booming or they do not pay enough to attract people that are not subsidised by the NEP.
Aid Bank does not pay the NEP, you idiot
Calling me an idiot does not hurt but what does hurt is if what you say is true. If it is govt. paying for the NEP workers at the Aid bank it means they get labour for free, and we the tax payers paying for it. That is wrong. What is more, this would enable them to screw their regular employees to the floor. I call that nasty, even evil.
I wonder if that wasnt Corbett Idea, I never see a man more “Bostar – Ca Ca”. If he help a child cross the road he want to hold press confrence
I like that one!! Omg,!
I wonder how much dis cruise costing dbank i hear is about $70,000 an chaiman pay is more than that of junior staff 2,500. Carlisle an Matt can u all
confirm those figures
Martin enjoy yourself, life too short and u working hard, who vex lost!
Yes carcon, he learned his trade at CLICO remember, as a director of the board. You see where an MBA will take you if you play your cards right.
The writing is on the wall, companies are starting to realise that without workers they cannot make money. The move is to give back to the workers, better the lives of the workers but taking less profit.
“would be granted increases of 0 percent, 3.5 percent and 0 percent for the period July 2012 to June 2015.”
You know many Dominicans accuse me of knowing everything, but even I Mr. Kid know it all surely do not unstained the term ( zero percent) 0%. Zero is nothing, so how can some give someone a zero percent increase, or a zero percent decrease in salary?
When will Dominicans stop making fools of themselves, and causing embarrassment to our people and country! Infinity starts, and continue without an end it goes on forever! Zero has absolutely no value, therefore it is absolute zero; In the late 1960’s New Math was introduced in the Caribbean, but I never thought they would have given zero (0) a mathematical value!
0+0 =0.00
0-0 = 0.00
0 X 0 =0.00
Try as you may zero cannot divided by zero. Oh, what a thing! There must be a different way to explain that!
Dear DNO,
What happen? One set of news allu reporting then. What about the story about staff sick-out at Marpin on Tuesday? What happen? Is it true? So long I waiting for the story.
The managers are noted for that they want to live expensive lifestyle and the staff has to take ….from them. Nonsense!
Welcome to Babylon
The people were not going on a cruise. There is a conference for regional banks in St Lucia and the reception is to be held on a boat. Dominicans like to say what they want without verification.
Say what you like, the fact is that they will be partying on a boat, all expenses paid at a very inopportune time. I hope it was not the whole board and their partners going on a freebie like that because that gives a very bad image.
A “Conference” eh, yet still the bill could put me, you and another person through university.
Carcon, next thing they want us to feel sorry for them because they were “working” on the weekend without claiming overtime.
PM ans gang always on cruise: dubai, malaysia, afghaninstan, etc. etc. what is wrong with all board members going on cruise. This must be The General Manager initiative.
Not Afghanistan Benjamin but definitely Azerbaijan but that is bad enough, another country ruled by an autocratic dictator.
i agree with the workers, stay home, you guys work too hard to be given such little salary. While the managers enjoy theirselves ,taking trips , and impressing their friends. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Pay the workers , after all they deserve it. Poor management skills is reflected here, this bank needs to do better. If they fire you , go overseas and work i am sure the OECS. Countries. Will gladly hire you.
Good protest for your rights.
One thing that people here are going to have to understand is that they are lucky to have any kind of job or salary and that the corporations or the govt. dictates, not the workers or the union. There aren’t many jobs in DA and that is why they can get away with it. People here have to learn to be creative and get away from authority.
man shut up…what tripe you talking dere nah?!
You was somebody plus 1 on the cruise man?
I always tell my children do not pretend to be sick for you not to go to school or work or call sickness on yourself or anyone else.
That is very laudable Thomas, seriously. You obviously do not approve of people telling lies or half-truths.
Ay ay bank does have money problem nuh? Is not in bank money living and making all their little ones nuh? What happen, the eggs not hatching? They will have to get a potent money rooster or maybe a money club settuper
Zor bon la avec Skerrit zor
The story here is about THE STAFF AT THE AID BANK NOT SKERRIT. stupes everything that happens now allu just jumping on the little man back……… no man is perfect……. give the man a break for once ner……….
on the other hand i like the idea of the protest (peacefull protest)
All countries has their own difficulties not only dominica. THE COUNTRY NICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
He is the PM and he has steered the country in the ……. That is why he gets blamed for everything, and quite rightly if I may add.
Yes, break the man and put him the bobol bin. That is the start of the clean up for our broke country.!
You think the other one who comes in after your all ‘break the man” will make things easier?
The same goes for Mr. Linton, too. Protest at Salisbury, Mr. Linton. PWD workers protest, Mr. Linton. The economy in shambles, Mr. Linton.
The bank is almost 90% owned by the govt., headed by the P.M. and the rest by the DSS, which is controlled by the Minister of Finance, who also happens to be the P.M. All the board members are appointed by the shareholders i.e ultimately the P.M. The board consists of nine person and frankly I don’t know why they need so many to oversee a total management staff of only 11, especially for such a relativeley small financial institution. The CEO, mr. Corbette can not approve any loan over E.C.$.250,000 (U.S.$.92,250!) without the approval of the board. Given these circumstances it is not an exaggeration to say that the institution is virtually controlled by the P.M., mr. Roosevelt Skerrit.
Blame skerrit self, e ca feh Magee a Dominique
The workers should all assemble at whatever port the board members are departing from in order to voice their dissatisfaction. Whether it is at the Ferry terminal in Roseau or at the airport because this is very unfair to the workers.
A little bit of interest-based negotiations may just bring this stalemate to a successful end for all parties. The staff wants 4%, 0% and 0%, but the Board is offering 0%, 3.5% and 0%. It is clear that the staff is putting a lot of interest in the 4% in year 1, and this is clearly a strategy to boost retroactive pay and carry the 4% over a longer period. If staff is agreed to a wage freeze for the other 2 years, then their request is a well-considered one. Here’s what management can do: (I) offer 3%, 0% and 1% or (2) 3%, 0.5% and 0% or (3) take it to arbitration.
They a re offering 3.5% effectively over a five year period, some of it back paid to 2012. Compounded that is less than 0.7% per year, less than half the rate of inflation. I don’t know where that top-heavy board is coming from but they must live in a world where they are not impacted, by the ravages of cost of living increases themselves. Insensitive lot of people.
The UWP asking you to give them $150.00, $250.00 up to $500 monthly for three years at least for them to invest??? for you. Who say the country not nice boy!!
What has that got to do with the employees of the AidBank being unhappy about their wages Thomas?
d tablet all u will get it in 20 25 d country nice boy
Lol good one. But let me fix it for u. 20 25 0
Fellow workers you have the rights to stand up for what you believe. We can’t have board members taking all expenses paid trip on the backs of the hard working staff. Corbett you know that would not fly with international banks. Whether it be cost of living allowance the staff would have gotten. Dominican let it be known it’s only the top 5% in these institutions gets raises so if it means the unionized staff has to ….the bank down so be it. These staff have families to maintain.
Members of the board come on do what is right. You want to offer peanuts then take an all expense paid trip to garraway hotel.
Citizen
Does anyone remember the Arab Spring Uprising? I am not advocating any uprising in Dominica.
The point I am trying to make is that one country started to challenge the authorities and the rest followed because they gained courage because of their brothers and sisters brave actions across from them.
Now maybe, just maybe, we are seeing that same courage being exhibited here. First Salisbury, then Public Works, now Aid Bank. It seems to me that people are cottoning on to the fact that the butterfly effect can really move the masses. Citizens should be demanding a very high standard from their politicians and should settle for nothing less.
I suspect there is more discontent to come from other parts of the working force of Dominica. The butterfly or the ripple effect shows no sign of slowing down. Dominicans now seem to have an appetite for wanting a better standard of living and working conditions and pay.
WATCH THIS SPACE
Board Members going on a cruise? Well! well! Yet some of these staff members support victimization of their fellow countrymen/women because they do not toe their party’s line. It is time we learn that no one is an island nor are we invincible. The negatives will affect us just as it will our neighbors. Don’t wait until you are affected directly, speak out when another is under fire.
Wow. Lost for words. SKero is minister of finance and lives in a house when I saw it looked like a hotel. The managers are of the bank are going on a cruise. Only who feels it know.
Apprantly Aid bank working for the board?
Everytime is a “this is doing bad, this needs to improve”, “Things are bad..this is bad”,”we sinking,”.. When you passing aid bank some nights staff vehicle park outside and board at their home sleeping.
And a board coming getting a salary for sitting down for 20 minutes, getting nice nice food and a cruise?
that makes no sense.
If one person have to feel “de Gy-aye” all of us feeling “de Gy-aye”. How one set can feel it and the other set going to be tanning. Garbage.
To the staff of Aid Bank: Good job, Come to my office Monday and I approve leave for each and everyone of you. Who have cold, who have fever, who have chickengunya. Two weeks sick leave I giving out!
Me that is the real “Red Clinic”
I hope they are doing a better job at collection on the loans they giving willy nilly to tom dick and harry so they can get the salary they want. if you cant collect you cant get paid,
Dominican, it is the Board of Directors who approves the loans, All of these none performing political loans are approved by they board, they know that they are not good loans but gives them for political purposes.
Ahh…so now the staff understands how people like me gwayaying when AID Bank takes a 1/3 of my salary each month..
Reduce the interest rate on student loans and I taking a day off just to come and protest in solidarity with you all
C’est La Vie.
Im not a bank worker but…when people say this it always gets to me. Aid bank(or no bank for that matter) didnt come at your and say “Aye u! Sign that paper and take X money and give us back X. YOU WENT to the bank where they agreed to give you X and you’d pay Y. If things are bad and you cant get a job to pay, thats honestly not the bank fault. Intrest rates can be high I agree but sir/ madam…you agreed to it.
So are you saying that when people agree to work for a certain salary they must continue working for that salary until retirement age? You make no sense at all, because as the cost of living goes up, salaries must go up too at some point.
Carcon you talking crap! Did they force a loan on you or was it you who begged for a loan? If you took a loan you must pay what you signed for. Is not your granny.
hmmmmm, nice move aid bank staff i applaud you.
I living overseas and I vote skerrit take your blows Dominicans,
and if I get another free ticket and Sewo I will vote him
again
What’s your point? There is hardship everywhere. Don’t rejoice nor put the blame on anyone. Honestly, being overseas does not make your situation better than folks living back home. You may have to do at least 3+ jobs to make ends meet. Don’t try to impress anyone.
Can’t you see that this satire? This person is actually ridiculing the ruling party !!
And, why wait on free ticket to go to Dominica?
You are one …….., so because you got a free ticket to dominica. The best thing you want to do is to come and inflict more pain to the suffering people of dominica by voting for a party because of a free ticket you disgust me.
don’t you recognize sarcasm. I am sure that person is not even overseas or voted skerrit
Dominicans had a chnace to vote out this government which has no interest in developing people but fulling their own pockets. selling passports rather ,they voted for sewo, cow meat story, lies , truck loads of plywood , alleged sexual abuse and handouts. Now take what all you get!
‘I love my Pm”
“labah Kah twavay”
The AID bank is not designed to enrich employees at the expense of poor malaway. I hope they are not getting paid while at home goofing off.
Just now the whole country will shut down, (it is already shut down), everyone must put their foot down, because cost of living is ‘sky high’, yet everything goes up: food, gas; everything, except the salary, even bread and pastry gone up, soon, the stores and supermarkets, will have food, and yet people will not be able to buy them, the Prime Minister, is Minister of Finance, can’t he do something about the increase? and also, the high cost of living in Dominica? just asking.
DOMINICA IS ‘FRIGGING HARD’.
Na man the Country nice. Financial Center and headquaters will be open
One thing that people here are going to have to understand is that they are lucky to have any kind of job or salary and that the corporations or the govt. dictates, not the workers or the union. There aren’t many jobs in DA and that is why they can get away with it. People here have to learn to be creative and get away from authority. They have to learn to think.
It is so hard because DA is being held hostage. No one can really afford those prices and they know it. It is a way of further povertizing the place. Remember, they only want 2 classes….the very rich and the very poor.
It just seem like every aspect of life in Dominica is in turmoil. But why ? De country nice boi !!!!!!!!