Port workers complain of short pay
It’s a long running dispute that seems to boil over into public protest every few months. Today the Port employees belonging to the Christian Workers Union were once again on the march.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
Some one hundred Port Authority workers are up in arms. They say their collective bargaining agreement for salary increases and pension fund has been broken. According to a letter signed by Ports Commissioner Captain John Watson, the workers would receive a two percent lump sum payment for April 1st to December 1st 2000 payable by today. It also states that a five percent increase in wages and salaries for January 1st 2001 would also be given. But according to workers we spoke to this afternoon, only non-union employees received their payments leaving unionmen empty handed.
James McFoy, President, C.W.U.
“If we are the union and we are negotiating an agreement, why is it that a non-union can get their money based on the negotiation and a union member cannot get it? That only shows that this man has something on his agenda or he wants to divide the union, he wants to show the workers that by being a union member you will not get your money, by not being a union member I could give you your money.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“But people have a right to organise.”
James McFoy
“Well, I don’t know how many people understand the law, it has just been passed whereby even non-union members even if they do not want to pay to the union, they will pay a fee to the government, which will be sent to Salvation Army or another charitable institutions. So if they believe they are using the workers who are sweating and paying dues for protection and they will get away, a sad thing coming.”
“I am using the proper authorities that can be used or helped to resolve this problem, and as a matter, I am saying if the workers do not get paid today, it will be a problem.”
Gareth Hemmans, Checker
“It’s not only about the money. It’s about respect on a whole because the union gives up a lot to work in good faith with management, but the way I see it, this man is undermining the whole process. I don’t know if he has a problem with the authorities, our leaders, and he is taking it out on us. Because he always says that he feels like bursting when he sees in the papers that the leaders would do without consulting him. He gives us his feelings, but at the same time he not only giving it to us in talking, but he also takes it out of us in action.”
Wilmore Staine, Union Representative
“When you think that this has been solved, because whenever we come out of a negotiation, we shake hands, we laugh with each other. We thought that this thing was over. We thought that everything would be going smooth and suddenly this news coming back.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Only to find out today that you are not getting paid.”
Wilmore Staine
“Exactly so, and the workers are really disgruntled, and they don’t like the tactics that the commissioner is using to rule and divide.”
Vincent Palacio, Dock Worker
“I work at Port for nine years and I feel like that man is abusing the workers. I think they will have to get rid of him or something because we won’t get any kind of benefits, just fighting through this confusion with him to get our own money.”
Evan Young, Linesman
“I think he’s spiteful. This man spiteful. The captain is spiteful.”
And when I tried to get views of Captain Watson I was told by his secretary that he was not in. He hurriedly detoured however, and sped away. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
McFoy says he will continue to dialogue to ensure that unionised workers get their wages and benefits.
