Court rules for ex-Port workers

THE INDUSTRIAL Court has ruled in favour of seven Port Authority workers who were suspended by their bosses. The dispute was between the Port Authority and the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union, on behalf of the workers. The workers are Desmond Johnson, Allan Hart, Vishnu Samlal, Anthony Carrington, Keyon Phillips, Arnold Carmichael and Wayne Wiltshire; They were described as “port followers”, meaning they were not permanently employed on a day-to-day basis. The dispute between the parties had its genesis on Novembere, 2000 when, they were requested by the Deputy General Manager, C Mendez to board a vessel to assist in the discharging of cargo. The workers feared for their personnel safety, and did not comply with the request.

Charges were laid against the workers and a decision was taken to suspend the workers for three months without pay. The Court said: “The suspension action against the workers was manifestly unfair” and that the workers’ suspensions must be set aside and expunged from their personnel files. Also, their compensation package must cover the period of suspension and the number of days they would have been employed. Members of the Court comprised Sandra Ramparas, Chairperson; Sam Maharaj and and Paul Lai who delivered the judgment.