Twenty PWC workers get walking papers

Letang said 20 workers received layoff notices
Letang said 20 workers received layoff notices

Twenty employees from the Public Works Corporation (PWC) were served walking papers on Wednesday, General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) Thomas Letang has confirmed.

“Wednesday they were issued…twenty of them were issued with letters for layoff starting from 1st of July to sometime in August,” he told Dominica News Online. “It’s about six weeks, so they will be laid off for about six weeks.”

He further stated that it appears the PWC management does not have the money for redundancy and is going the route of laying off workers.

“What they might do is after the six weeks maybe call people back, have them work for a period of time and then send them out again,” Letang remarked.

He said the union is trying to establish whether those who got the letters were victimized because they took part in recent protest action by the workers.

“For example, we are looking at one area where a gentleman is being sent home, he is the most experienced person in the area where he works, he is the Supervisor in the area where he works, he is more experienced than the other person and we are wondering why did you send him home. Is it because he was protesting?” Letang noted. “We are looking at all the people and the names and based on that we are again getting in contact with the lawyer and determine whether there is anything that can be done in terms of the people who were sent home and who have been laid off.”

Letang said last week that he received a letter signed by the General Manager of the PWC stating that a total of 20 employees would be laid off effective Friday, June 19th 2015.

In fact he said the DPSU was seeking to file an injunction in court to prevent the layoffs.

However, he said on Friday (today) that the union’s lawyers have advised that the union should respond to the notices sent by the PWC management.

“We did not take a definite decision that we were going to file an injunction,” he pointed out. “We said that we would be seeking legal advice and our lawyers advised us that we should respond to the notices that they sent and explained to us that it was not in keeping with the sections of the laws that they were quoting.”

PWC workers have been protesting for weeks complaining of late salaries, non-payment of contribution to Social Security, poor working conditions and a host of other issues.

The protest was deemed illegal by the authorities.

On Friday the union encouraged Dominicans to wear black in solidarity with the workers.

“We will see how that goes and will decide where we move from there,” Letang said.

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54 Comments

  1. r charles
    June 22, 2015

    they were all on labor party platform.we not getting involved.

  2. r charles
    June 22, 2015

    To all labor party supporters…where ignorance is bliss..tis folly to be wise..

  3. Just Blaze
    June 22, 2015

    PWC is a sinking ship and has been this way for a while. So many times I come on here and I see workers complaining about salaries creditors complaining PWC owing them and cant get paid. Makes no sense to keep it open. Just close down the place.

  4. birds of a feather
    June 21, 2015

    is the general manager of the pwc a former manager of a certain institution? was there or wasn’t there some sort of financial fraud at the Portsmouth credit union at one point? Didn’t a certain inspector claim to sweep money outside then got promoted? it jut seem like the best way to get promoted in this country is to sweep money outside and so on and so forth.

    birds of a feather flock together?

  5. Doc. Love
    June 21, 2015

    I don’t agree with the headlines, “twenty PWC workers get walking papers.” In my opinion, it should read, “twenty PWC workers who were intimidated, victimized get walking papers.” Is it coincidental that the so called trouble makers, although experience and long serving were the ones who received their going home papers. Please keep your eyes and ears open, Mr. Letang, don’t be surprised, the twenty workers in question, maybe replaced by either laborites or NEP Graduates.

  6. swagger
    June 21, 2015

    Open all you eyes. The government trying to close down public works. Trying to frustrate the people by sending home the people in a philosophy that the people will just finish with that public works ting. I doeno how dominicans can sit there and support that government. Them man so wicked they not thinking about where theses people going to get money to feed there familly. And for those down right labour supporters who dont even have a shelter over there head or dont even know when. Those stupid labourites who sit there and allow the gov to get rich annd they remain poor. Those undeucated idiots who sit therr playing patisan politics and not worry bout there future. Those who believe that skerire should continue to enjoy his self and get rich and then they can buy a plywood to put on there house. Continue ro be stupid . This contemporary gov is using you uneducated people who dont know better. Not everyone is a fool.

  7. gadathy
    June 21, 2015

    inspite of what domican think praise God for daddy nasief praise God for papa astaphan and mrs clear habour but i must say from 2000 employment has decrease badly pm what a u doing ?

  8. Ron
    June 21, 2015

    Later has no balls…….

    • funiti
      June 23, 2015

      He has enough balls to underpay cleaners and security personnel…then insist on deductions for Union dues…engaging in double standards and conflict of interest..employer and Union in one boat

  9. riz
    June 21, 2015

    Take that my people. This is exactly what you voted for. Many more to come. Wait and see. Labaaaaarrrr!!

  10. The Real Facts
    June 20, 2015

    There are some ethics some D/cans may not know. If you are in supervisory, management or are an executive, you do not get involved in staff protests. You must stay on the outside, neutral, even though you are looking in and approve the protests. This also pertains to elected politicians. It projects you are the ones who organized the protest.
    Staff are laid off worldwide by the hundreds and thousands with no chance of being recalled. Employees who are affected and have at least three months service have no alternative but to apply for unemployment insurance benefit since they paid into the fund.
    Times are hard. Consider the advent of technology and constant upgrading. These have decreased jobs. Competition has also contributed to that.
    Some employers can no longer retain a certain amount of staff. The entire world is experiencing this dilemma. In time the smaller countries will experience it. I do believe the worst is yet to come throughout the world.

    • Lang Mama
      June 22, 2015

      All you who is that kaka belly nuh. And these people keep calling god name wii. Is a good thing god too old and tired cause if not people like Real fact would be pillars of salt in Canada

  11. SMH
    June 20, 2015

    And what makes me mad as hell these idiots who voted this dictator watching me and saying ALAS put. $ dollar in my hand dere nah to buy a bread, Hello did they or did they not hear when I told them Do not vote Sherrit and his and his bunch of crooks.

  12. June 20, 2015

    What are we crying about? PM Skerrrit gave jobs to all his party boys who lost their seats in the last election and remarked “they have to eat” Therefore my brothers have a little faith and hold on; It’s no longer all shall eat but some shall eat all. What did madame speaker say “It’s better to be RED than DEAD; mama look it.

  13. too late
    June 20, 2015

    this dishonest and unscrupulous administration cares nothing about empowering and developing its citizens.
    all it cares about is fellas sleeping with each other wives , female minister and chief always on some overseas trip, young women allegedly molested,top officials abandoning their wives, fie bombings, passport
    scandals, and expired tear gas

  14. My rights
    June 20, 2015

    Never again slavery. Never again slavery.must be the buzz word across Dominica.

    Because a new kind of slavery has enveloped the land. the NOUVEAU RICH, the few who have become millionaires overnight,, have shown that they do not care two hoots about the struggling masses.

    While the majority sucking salt, the few Cabalists are bathing in wealth. Bank accounts gleaming. The few have set up offices, put mechanisms in place here and overseas, even in the Middle East, to sell our passports, making millions.

    Poor workers are fired, victimized,, put on the unemployment heap. Their families bawling.

    PWC workers are not paid their money owed to them for months for work done. Their Social Security contributions to DSS in the thousand of $$$$$$ not paid. The Land where PWC operates is now Chinese own, thanks to Skerritt and his DLP Gov’t. PWC not in the picture in the deal.

    Workers protest illegal? Which DLP politician or operative has to beg for their…

  15. Anonymous
    June 20, 2015

    You all ain’t see nothing yet. Elections over only 6 months, wait for the rest Dominica will be seezelling with more of the same. That ‘s what you people voted for – good luck.
    Yesterday I watched the state funeral and while Dr Liverpool deserved the state funeral and more, I couldn’t help but see how disfunctional our system is. In any true democracy after an election all heads cool off and the system i.e the government chosen governs the country for all its citizens, but, unfortunately The leaders of Dominica have their own form of democracy. Obama does not hate any Republicans he just says and act as he should to get in power, so does other leaders. The two sides attend all state functions together. Our system have not grown. Those PWC workers are being victimized like the Salisbury people, the government decides what is legal and what is not. Those whose stomachs are full side with them. But justice from God is for all his children. LabourofLove I am referring to the…

    • Anonymous
      June 20, 2015

      continued: God Almighty. by the way you are a poor twisted and misguided red clinique recipient who will end up in the soup. May the Almighty Father save my country.

  16. Trouble
    June 20, 2015

    Alaas

  17. al
    June 20, 2015

    now they have a lot of time to play dominoes

  18. truth
    June 20, 2015

    Love your neighbour as yourself. One day we all have to go six feet and must give an account to God the Father. The only person we will be able to talk about is “me” “I”. Our two hands will be free, our fame will go to grass but what we have done for the Lord, God will last forever. No one can stop death, not power, money , gold or silver.

  19. IluvmyPm
    June 20, 2015

    Stop Passport sales it not trickling down to the poor man only a few
    getting rich!

  20. Country Woman
    June 20, 2015

    you people do not seems to understand what is happening, the worst part is when you will realize it will be to late.

  21. what a devastating shame
    June 20, 2015

    Oh my heavenly Father, God! What am I hearing there? That’s what I call riotously and turmoiltously; tantamont to snippers shooting at our heads, feet, hands and stomach. People have children, parents, relatives, friends and themselves to feed. Domino effect. Pa pa bondieu, help us, help us. We are crying. My old lady is sick and suffering. What have they done to deserve this. O my God, o my God. Children, mama, grandpa, you all will have to start eating carpi, zebre grass and landfill tablet saltfish.

  22. anonymous2
    June 19, 2015

    Things are only going to get worse as far as employment goes. The layoff may be longer than 6 weeks.

    • HELL with politic
      June 21, 2015

      They should be fired permanently because while they have THOMAS making fools of themselves he is getting paid. My thing is if you want to get paid you have to work. Dominicans are just a big set of jokers.

  23. Well , Well , Well
    June 19, 2015

    First of all i starting to feel like the unions are a waist of time , to me i cannot remember when a union representing someone was successful . Correct me if i am wrong.I love the way Skerrit treating Dominicans, FIVE more years , Carimi , Destra and the list goes on.He cancelled the meeting now see what’s happening ? FIVE more years .Those brainwashed labourits think is Linton and the UWP that is hungry for power, but let them doh open their eyes. Time will certainly teach them a lesson.

    • The Real Facts
      June 20, 2015

      So you think you are not brainwashed by calling them brainwashed? Think again who is really brainwashed and also insulting and debasing. What do you know about time and the future? They may surprise you.

    • The Real Facts
      June 21, 2015

      We all make mistakes.
      I suppose you meant “a waste” of time.

  24. Workers resist
    June 19, 2015

    Dominicans of all walks of life don’t you see and understand what is happening to poor, marginalised, struggling people under Skerritt’s incompetent DLP Gov’t?

    While Salisbury residents are tear-gased, worse yet, with expired TEAR GAS, a few locals and foreigners are free to sell our passports, making millions. One of those few, recently deposited $1.5 million into a local bank. Passport sales

    Salisbury residents cannot access their farms. because of neglect for Years of the feeder roads, and so cannot earn a living from their farms.

    The land where PWC has been operating for decades have been either sold, leased or given free to Chinese business men to build hotel. Dominicans don’t know about that deal with Skerritt and the Chinese businessmen. Even the Chinese Gov’t washed their hands regarding the US$300 million, Skerritt signed in China with a private Chinese financial concern.

    DLP Gov’t give 15 acres to foreigner, plus our Passports to sell. PWC…

  25. mandate 2 mismanage
    June 19, 2015

    What made this protest illegal?

  26. Ex Laborite
    June 19, 2015

    West Indies Aggregate, which is owned by French businessman Jacques Gaddarkhan, has not been operating for over six weeks and employees are owed four fortnight payments.
    “We got a letter saying that by the 15th, that’s Monday, they would get a second letter indicating the status of the job but they are still waiting to hear what Gaddarkhan have to say,” Jemmot said.
    Jemmot said while this is not the first time this situation has occurred, the employees are at their wits end.

    Yet still public works jobs are given to Gardakan by the government of Dominica.

    • The Real Facts
      June 20, 2015

      Do not be an Ex. They should contact the government about that.

    • anonymous2
      June 21, 2015

      It is very obvious that Mr. G has some kind of hold over the govt.

    • Titiwi
      June 21, 2015

      That is true, the big project to upgrade the main road on the east coast is all for Gaddarkhan, a foreign company. All the time is Gaddarkhan, how come and not PWC, which is the government own. Maybe his machinery better oiled than Public Works?

  27. Looking
    June 19, 2015

    If you are not with us you are against us. If you are with us you are protected by the law. As long as you support us you will get the job or promotion. If you get involved in bobol you will be protected. The house of cards, one day one of the cards will reach the stage of no return and the entire pack will come crumbling down.

  28. Intelligent Real Porssie
    June 19, 2015

    Please note there is an A hole called real Porssie. When one man looses his job many other jobs and lives are impacted and some blind partisan idiot is rejoicing that these 20 people are axed out of a job.
    I wonder how this one board member can sit and be part of a system maliciously taking jobs from people when he himself was given a second chance after he was fired for gross misappropriation of funds from a certain institution. People went out of the way to land you another job and today you are victimizing people who have worked many many years with the public works department.

    Pluis ta que pluis twis

    • real possie
      June 19, 2015

      Oh so you know that lives will be affected? is not victimization you all crying nah? these people been there since 95 when Edo and Earl full up PWC with all workers, where were you then to cry? there’s no money to pay them to work half of them cheated the system, I did not leave them without a job I said let them go plant to sell, now am wrong to suggest that was it not you all who was happy with the protest? you people are just wicked. No matter what I say on here or you say on here will not change what is to be done.

      • Intelligent Real Porssie
        June 20, 2015

        You are a perfect idiot and you make no sense. I am tired of you embarrassing people like me from Porssie. Maybe you could have spent more time in school as oppose to under WayaSs mango tree.
        let them go plant to sell what to who? People like Mano Levi and many more were put in positions for which they are unqualified. I can name many more people who are simply cheating the system and are Labor Party implants
        Your argument is disjointed and too often you soundbite a crack addict on steroids.

    • MyPiece
      June 22, 2015

      Intelligent Real Porssie. You all must stop spreading propaganda. He was not fired for gross misappropriation of funds. He have never stolen or misused the institution funds. You know exactly why he resigned. Nobody went “out of the way” to land him another job. With his qualification and experience he is able to get any job anywhere.
      And for your information he is only 1 man, and a board is made up of several other individuals as you should be aware, so why do you choose to pin-point him and him only. Jeez. You people make me sick. Get off his back!!!

      • Intelligent Real Porssie
        June 22, 2015

        “He have never stolen or misused the institution funds” – child what you don’t know is older than you.
        “Nobody went out of the way to land hime another job” – Child when you hear big people talking sit your little innocent self down and listen
        “With his qualifications and experience”- what qualifications – please please let us know cause as far as I know and believe me I know the qualifications you trying to lie about does not exist.
        So child go find your sand box

  29. Lang Mama
    June 19, 2015

    Dominicans your outrage should be shown in the streets. A government who 6 months ago said that they would be creating more jobs; A government who said that friends gave them $32 Million for a 30 day campaign cannot find the money to pay PWC salaries and social security owed.
    A government where party cabal are having $1.5 Million passport money coming in from overseas unto their private account not withstanding their private offshore bank accounts. All of this yet they have the guts to layoff people at public works. Where is your conscience Roosevelt and gang. Many of these people had already lost their gratuity after your government decided to make public works irrelevant over.
    But what the public works people are experiencing is partially te fault of Thomas Letang who allowed the government to play him like a racket ball. If Letang says or pretend like he didn’t see it coming he need to resign.

    • anonymous2
      June 21, 2015

      I guess people still don’t get it. The bankers took over the govt.revenues at the end of May. That is why the port was updated and reorganized because it is a main source of revenue for the island. Skerrit isn’t getting the money anymore. He announced that in Parliament several weeks ago. I wonder if he is even getting a salary. If you notice, he is very scarce these days especially when it comes to addressing issues..

  30. real possie
    June 19, 2015

    Take them back? I say no way we need young people to be hired now, we need young blood. Give the young people a chance to grow in this new era. We tired of politics in everything, let them man that got their walking papers to go plant in Salisbury they getting the road fixed now, they will be their own boss.

    • too late
      June 19, 2015

      real possie fools like u never understood when the opposition was calling for the creation of jobs for the young people of Dominica. There are NO Jobs for neither young people nor old people in the country.All there is are hand outs, red clinic, cooking gas, yes we care , and promised tablets nothing else . Dont You get it?

      • forreal
        June 19, 2015

        so where would the opposition create jobs from,they all promise this is why it.s called politics,did the opposition have a boatload of jobs just offshore for as soon as they had won,they would offload the boat in fondcole at the deep water harbor,if so they are in the opposition in the house of assembly and they care very much for the people,then ofload the ship still, even if they lost the elections,prove to the people that they had a ship,you all do not seem to see,that nothing is free,you all got to vote them into power,for them to do anything for you all,just someing to think about,when you all depend on promises

      • The Real Facts
        June 20, 2015

        It was no exception in those days and even worst. They did not have the Red Clinic and other assistance then. At least those today will get this help.

    • %
      June 20, 2015

      @real possie You seem to be a wicked and heartless imp. How can you sleep well with this corrupted heart?

      • NothingFree
        June 20, 2015

        Being paid well does a lot of things. Or at least I hope so. If you wicked is one thing, if you mindless is another. Whenever you hear labourites talk you might as well wish the world end because all is doom and gloom and nobody can do better. So Skerrit or die?

      • The Real Facts
        June 20, 2015

        I often wonder how could people like you be unkind, insulting and debasing on this Website to your fellow D/cans? What goes for one, goes for others.

      • anonymous2
        June 21, 2015

        Easy. He is one of the ones that feels that he is owed a job of his choosing and that it is his right to go steal from others if he can’t get one. Thieving will really be on the rise..

    • forkit
      June 21, 2015

      those people are young people and labouites at that…. your comment are so foolish i hope idiots like u should engage brain before typing fingers

  31. too late
    June 19, 2015

    jobs for the boys who lost election but walking paper for poor hard working Dominicans.

    Dominicans take what all you get. not hand out all you vote for? now i guess these 20 men can report to the red clinic

    labahhhhhhhhh kah twavay

    • timtim
      June 21, 2015

      Let them take what they get….demunion leaders dere self self eh!

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