…call for review of appointments, union representation

Dear Editor,
WE need your assistance in letting the powers that be know of our plight at the National Insurance Scheme. The current employment practices at the institution need intervention and assistance from the present administration that is doing so much to ensure that everyone is satisfied.

The staff welfare is not being looked at and we do not have a functioning Union to represent us, so all advantages are being taken of us. Even the Board is not assisting us, more so the Trade Unionist on the Board who say he is championing for workers’ rights.
Recently, there were appointments for Customer Service Officers of which only persons closely associated with the current General Manager have been promoted. Her friends and cronies are the ones who were given the positions. Persons had known of their appointments before the interviews and could have been heard boasting of their appointments and friendship with the General Manager. She is making all the decisions arbitrarily since the Assistant General Manager (Administration) has no say in the employment practices. He has clearly stated that when we approached him on our dissatisfaction. At the interviews, we were almost dejected to the point that we wanted to walk out but(due to) fear of discrimination we could not have done that.

We know this Administration is pushing for persons to be qualified but this General Manager is acting against that. Persons are not qualified and still appointed to positions. You don’t have to be qualified for promotion and acting, you have to be aligned with her, the General Manager. All the appointments and acting, including transfers, were done arbitrarily.

The President and the Opposition Leader have to assist us, it is not about politics anymore. This is about a financial institution which is of utmost importance in this country. There are square pegs in round holes, that is why they take a lot of false information on persons and she believes it. We wish for the Ministers to intervene also. If a COI is to be held at NIS, you would hear of the wrong things that occur on a daily basis. This is too much, we need assistance. We are demotivated.

We would like for you, Mr. President, to look at all the appointments and acting, since the General Manager took over and the damning revelations will prove that all the people are her friends and associates without qualifications from Head Clerk to Assistant General Manager. Request a review and you will see. We call on the Opposition to intervene also as well as the Ethnic Relations Commission. Transfers are currently being done to facilitate the promotion of her friends. In all Offices and Sections of the Scheme, almost 95% per cent of the staff is demotivated due to this fact and serious breaches in employment. How can we produce with this situation at hand that is affecting us psychologically? We are pleading for help and review on all the appointments since her tenure. This is too much that we cannot bear. Because of her behaviour, look at the staff turnover of qualified and experienced persons that are leaving the organisation. It is time we get representation by a union and this administration. We call on all unions to represent us since their representative on the Board is condoning and adding to the frustration we go through daily.

Regards
Member of Staff