‘Abused’ CEPEP worker takes boss to court

So said grandmother Judy Ann George, 55, who is proud of her CEPEP uniform, but not of the kind of treatment she claims is often meted out to workers by some of the bosses. It is the reason why only three months after being hired as a labourer in a gang, she is now heading to court.

Smith, of Francis Street, Ste Madeleine, has accused one of her bosses of verbal harassment by the use of abusive and annoying language and intimidation (by talking in Smith’s face). On September 5, the two women will have their day in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court.

An irate Smith told Newsday, “I am going to court because no one should be allowed to speak to or treat CEPEP workers the way some of them do and that’s why I am standing up even if it means losing my job. I am not afraid.” She claims that she was verbally abused when she raised questions about meetings for workers to discuss health and safety matters among other problems workers experience.

“They take advantage of us and don’t want us to speak out.” Smith explained that she is a member of one of the CEPEP gangs working in Pleasantville, San Fernando and one of five women who hold up the wide screen while the grass is being cut and later heap it together to be taken away.