Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
FORMER EMPLOYEES of the Ocho Rios market and the transportation centre staged a peaceful protest in front of the offices of the St. Ann Parish Council in St. Ann's Bay on Tuesday, demanding retroactive payments owed to them.
The group of placard-waving protesters comprising former market clerks and municipal wardens claimed that they have been owed retroactive payments since May last year when their services were terminated by the council.
The former employees, who are represented by the National Workers Union, charged that political victimisation was the motive behind the termination of their services.
They reported that they have been working with the council since 1999 and were sent on leave in March last year without any justifiable reason.
"Some of us were given up to three months leave and at the end of that period when we returned to work we were told that we were no longer employed to the council," explained Patricia Graham, one of the protesters.
RETROACTIVE PAY
Graham said about 20 of them were dismissed and since then some have received part of their retroactive pay, while the majority have not received anything, despite several requests sent to the council. She said they will continue to protest until they receive their payments.
Graham also said that those who were terminated are still unemployed and need the money to assist in paying their bills.
But director of finance at the St. Ann Parish Council, Neville Rennard, said there is still some uncertainty over the classification of the former employees whether they are entitled to retroactive pay.
Mr. Rennard said that this was his understanding based on a letter dated February 4, 2005 which was sent to the council from the Ministry of Finance.
Quoting from the letter, he said, "Please note that for positions that have not been reclassified, the revised salary effective 1st October, 2002 will not be implemented." He said that this means that the council is not in a position to even attempt doing a costing of the amount that is expected to be paid out.
Mr. Rennard said the matter is still with the Ministry of Finance and that unless the Ministry gives the council the specific advice on how to proceed, the council will not be able to do anything. He said he is asking the former workers to exercise patience until the matter is sorted out.
