S.S.B. Workers Walk Out; Management Raises Alarm About Services

Social Security Board employees staged another walk-out this afternoon. Around three o’clock, employees started to exit the offices individually and some thirty minutes later the building was almost empty. In a release issue later this afternoon, the S.S.B. noted that the trade dispute arises out of the fact that the S.S.B. and the CWU have been unable to reach an agreement on the new CBA. A one-point-seven-five percent pay raise is on the table for employees. C.E.O. Doug Singh reported at the time of the last demonstration that a lot of staff members have accumulated vacation days for which they expect to be paid. That results in increased money for the Board to pay out and it also affects your contributions to the Board which are the basis for the benefits we all get when applicable. And so, the Board is stating that they will put a cap on such accumulation to two years, after which they need to take their vacation. Singh affirmed that all employees who have accumulated days will be allowed to take them. The S.S.B. release expresses that the Board remains optimistic, “S.S.B. is hopeful that the pending mediation process will commence without delay in an effort to reach a mutually beneficial outcome.” The release, however, goes on to advise the public that some services at its offices countrywide may be impacted if the CWU proceeds with any type of industrial action. But that the S.S.B. will do its best to maintain basic services at its offices if there is any such action.