The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), the union representing staff of telecoms giant Lime Dominica limited (formerly Cable and Wireless) says it will investigate the circumstances that have led to a decision to make several positions at the company redundant.
News broke this week that close to 11 employees received their walking papers.
According to the company, that move was in keeping with organizational changes that most businesses go through as part of a process of fine tuning their operations.
However General Secretary of the DPSU Thomas Letang has indicated that the union will request postponement of termination.
“With that new development we would have to investigate the circumstances that have led to the decision that have led those positions being made redundant, we will also have to look at the whole question of critical staff count, people are being sent home, who is going to do the job,” Letang queried.
“The possibility exists that other people will be employed and we are very very concerned that because as you know Lime operates regionally and it is not unlikely that while people will be sent home that we may have people coming in or being employed whether they are taken from Dominica or regionally,” he said.
Letang told Dominica News Online that the union is taking this matter very seriously and is extremely concerned at this point.
He says the union is expected to meet with those affected soon along with their shop Stewart.
The Union is now requesting of LIME that it postpone the termination of these employees to allow for further concrete and meaningful discussion on the matter.
i rate the DPSU as the best and Letang is damn good.This man in the short time he starts representing LIME empoyees he has gotten so much even salary increase for a period when DPSU had not been there yet .he got millions of dollars health coverage ,gratuity,increases in allowances and for retraining .the list goes on and on.as for public officers without strike several allowaces,pension bridging,pre school,parry bellot without a job,education grant,establishment of a company to save jobs,salary increases not to be entangled with classification.remember his position at DOWASCO andPublic Works? it paid off.You cannot but like the guye.doing so much inspite of not getting 100 percent membership support.All the way with myb Gen Sec and my union.Any negative cooment is rebuked
Its sad that this is happening. Tings are tight everywhere. But Manager of these company spend big money on tings that a not necessary. A Manager of one institution in Dominica is paying his woman thousands of dollars evry month and now staff cant get their monthly salary. This manager nos is way around and likes to manupulate the system. The auditor is rubbish all he does is drink rum and smoke, so wen he comes to audit this company he make it look bright on paper but reality is it isnt.
Soon staff will be sent home cuz no money to pay them. Another sad day for Dominica wen this happens. People cant get thier guatity pay, court settlement with pass staff cant be paid. As Jammers would say its a shit hole in this place. Am calling on the authority to investigate this very important institution on this island cuz the master is sinking the ship.
Well, Lime employees are unionized and in the interest of its members, the Union has the right to investigate and seek clarification of those redundancies. Lime should be kept under scrutiny for future staff employment.
Some employers will dismiss staff and then turn around and employ others in the same capacity for less pay. Let us hope that this is not the plan of Lime and also to employ them from overseas. None of you can blame the government for that.
that is a classic rotten lime tactic they do it every couple years
I like Mr. Letang’s spirit. Although, the influence of Unions the world over may be dwindling down to its lowest ebb never to rise again, the DPSU is trying its damn best in such a rough environment. However, I could advise the DPSU that it need not waste its time and resources in conducting any lengthy investigation in to this matter. The answer is found in the simple business philosophy of LIME – limiting operating costs and maximizing profit without much concern over the impact of its pure business decision on the lives of the staff members affected and their families. It is all about business.
In acknowledgement of the advice give by a reader on this website, who thinks that my postings are too long, I admit that there is more to be said but I shall leave it at that based on the value and moral of the following story.
At a dinner party, the speaker who was the guest of honor, was about to deliver his speech when his wife sitting at the other end of the table, sent him a piece of paper with the word “KISS” scribbled on it.
A guest seated next to the speaker said,
” WoW! your wife has sent you a “KISS” before you begin your speech , she must love you very much !” The speaker replied, “You don’t know my wife yet. The letters stand for: “KEEP IT SHORT, STUPID !
First thing to find out is who was unionized and who was not…
Unions are useless embarrassments on the back of workers. The Port workers complain, the civil servants are mostly pushed around by government, the unions are fighting each other and the workers suffer as usual. The General Secretaries are always employed however.
@ maindesk
I hope you think before you talk/write. Unions do help its workers. Do not undermine them. Employers have rules and whether employees are unionized they must abide by those rules, on condition the employers’ rules and expectations do not violate their human rights.
The Union has a record of the relevant directive, copy of which must be given to its members and also to the employers so that there will be no misunderstanding of what is required and expected of them. If employees have a concern about their employers’ treatment of them, they should lodge a complaint with their Union. This is my simple explanation of the situation.
sorry but I have to agree Dcan Unions are a waste
Next stop Digicel customer service department….ive never received more horiffying service in my entire life!
Oh Please Letang, … Neither u or your union can fix this matter.
@ Mixmaster
Are you an executive/management of Lime? How can you be so positive? Nothing beats a failure but a trial and also the saying, “If at first you do not succeed, try again”. It is the Union’s position to assist its members in any way it possibly could.
You send home qualified locals, but yet you taking foreigners who cannot do , What is the Governments position on this!!!
After all its the government that issues the work permit. How will you Mr. Baptiste convince the Prime minister that they are no more qualified locals in Dominica to fill the positions and that is why you want a work Permit for John Doe. You think Skerit foolish.
Is time we Dominicans stand up against this nonsense.
Staff Mama, u r so rite. i feel u
We need to hear the Prime minister comeout on this foolishness!
But Thomas seem like he hiding someting man… STRIKE 1… STRIKE 2 … STRIKE 3, you out!
This will free up more money to support festivals!
Seriously, how much money Govt. owing Lime?
@ Staff Mama
Should this occur then the Union will have a case against Lime for laying off its staff and employing new staff. Lime should not be given a work permit for employees who will be performing the identical jobs as those it laid off. Be on the look out.
Mr. Letang, please stop while you are head. When for you to investigate and take action you make “cover-up” noises while winking one eyes (Giving tacit approval) but now you want to investigate a private company for restructuring? Give me a damn break sir!
While I sympathize with those who were let go, we must all realize that if the economy does not generate enough business to keep them employed then LIME has no choice. No money in the country so LIME cannot keep behaving like a charity organization by just holding on to workers while earnings fall. Shareholders expect RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS (ROI) not losses to cover-up a failed economic system.
Assertive, NOT Agressive
I understand the plight of those workers and their families at this this dark hour. I had first hand experience of what it feels like in St. Croix this year.
Now Mr. Letang will understand what it is to be humble as a union leader and not believe everything demands a strike as in the case of Parry Bellot.
Surely we can resolve things without confrontation.
people lossing their jobs everyday yet all you giving liat 8 million
Liat is the number one airline all you have serving in the caribbean region you want them not to help. Are you people serious?When they do not help who is going to transport you all to and from other caribbean countries on a daily basis.i SAY IT’S GOOD investment. idiots.
check the amount of business places closing and people losing their job since january…
yet them man buying house in all corner of roseau, 1.5 million… things good for one set..
three story building in cork street, house buying by cis, mansion building in st joe..
by november IT will be WEEPING AND WAILING AND THE KNASHING OF TEETH IN THE COUNTRY
However regretfully these layoffs and redundancies should not have come as a surprise. Check what LIME has done in our other Caricom sister nations.
Shame on you JB.
Send home your staff who are qualified Dominicans, and hire Jamaicans and St. Lucians for 3 times their salary? Shame Shame Shame.
And what is the Governments position on this, after all they own 20% right Mr. Baptiste?
And them Jamicians driving Big time ride now. But with the big salary they can buy wat dey want. Mercedes Benz, Audi, you name it.
All u not fooling me, them managers dont give a …. about their workers or d company.
Is dem pockets they looking to Line.
You people just irk the hell out of me. How hard is it for you to understand that this is done regionally. Jeffrey is not the one sending home anybody.
move to SAT TELECOMS OR MARPIN SIMPLE
Companies hire and fire everyday. Unions were needed decades ago. Today they are trying to remain important, but those who pay union dues are simply wasting money.
Utter rubbish. What investigation? And what can the union do? Tell LIME to rehire them? No job is guaranteed. that’s why one should put his best foot forward everyday. The weakest links are usually the ones to go!
When they don’t perform and believe they have a job for life, wake up call. Companies are in business to profit their shareholders. They are not in business to hire folks or keep them on a payroll if not needed.
Its the really.
i do not mean to be harsh but government needs to look into the public service and take those actions against those public officers who think that they can go to work when they feel like and whatever time they want.some of them are entrusted with other people’s lives including children and just do not care a damn
thats the same mentality civil servants have thats why they cannot achieve anything.. if i vote blue and red in office, i will strike when called to do so by the union..
and if vote red and blue in office, i will do likewise….
what those miscreants dont realise is that their personal developements is hindered dearly by a government that get no pressure from its employees…that is why allu will get 3% after ten years and those dirty politicians can give themselves 52 percent.
the power of the union(unity) can break any government or company for the rights of the common man..
Mr. Letang, you acting after the horse has bolted!
Are they members of your union and you did not know what’s going on? What kind of union is that? “Bal fini, violin en sac”.
Everything is inside out,everything is upside Down,and if Did`nt know better. I would listen to the BS. But trust me the workers always get it up there??????. Not because other Countries are doing it. that does not make it wright.
Why not restructure the pay scale of those with all the big salary and let the little man pay his mortgage.
i thought of that myself
like those at the helm getting the big fat 300,000 a year
I hope it’s those sales clerks with the bad attitudes that they let go.
Rubbish!!!