SSA workers demand gratuity

Over 50 workers of the NOC were transferred to the SSA last August. They experienced problems receiving salaries which resulted in an arrangement being made for them to be paid by the National Helicopter Services Ltd (NHSL) with government in turn reimbursing the latter.

Workers were promised 20 percent of their annual salary, going towards a gratuity.

This was honoured in 2016 by the NHSL but now workers from three departments of the Air Division including Flight Operations Centre, Helicopter Unit and Technical Operations Department are being told that until Colonel George Robinson, the Head of the SSA gives the green light for the gratuity to be paid, there will be no payment.

According to workers, they have been told by a senior official that the gratuity payment will not be honoured and that the SSA is eager to shut down the Air Division.

Workers spoke of instances where contracts expired and on being given a new one, they are now being paid half of what they previously earned.

SSA workers are non-unionised.

They are calling on Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon to intervene so some kind of assurance can be given regarding the outstanding gratuity and their tenure as contracts will soon expire.

Efforts to reach Colonel Robinson for a comment proved futile.