Inflammatory, misleading and mischievous. This is the Judiciary’s response to a claim by Public Service Association president Watson Duke that protesting workers of the San Fernando Magistrate’s Court health is at risk as recently a worker was diagnosed with cancer. Duke also said another worker had developed a skin problem which required expensive medical care.
Duke referred those workers to the PSA doctors, promising that PSA would pay their medical bill. The workers, who walked off the job on August 5 because of health and safety concerns, have refused to return to work despite instructions by the Judiciary to return to work. Claiming that the workers’ action was illegal, the judiciary sent letters to the workers informing them that their pay will be cut because they have given no justifiable reason for their action.
In a release yesterday, the judiciary stated: “The Judiciary views as inflammatory, misleading and mischievous the statements expressed by Mr Watson Duke as reported in media in relation to the health of workers assigned to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court. “The claims are irresponsible and made in the absence of any empirical evidence of a causal connection with the state of the court premises.”
“As a responsible employer,” the release further stated, “the institution remains intimately concerned with the welfare of all staff and firmly rejects any implication that the organisation would expose its personnel to any conditions which would adversely impact their health.”
The judiciary said it was also regrettable that confidential information, concerning the medical condition of employees, is being discussed in the public domain creating further distress for those afflicted and their families.
“The Judiciary wishes to reaffirm its commitment to its employees once more as a key resource and whose well being is of paramount importance. The organisation has introduced over the last few years robust Employee Assistance and Health and Wellness programmes throughout the organisation to assist with this particular focus.”
In an earlier release on Thursday, the Judiciary stated that an Occupational Safety and Health Agency report identified some issues of non-compliance, but has not restricted the use of the court building or any part thereof. Duke said the workers based their action on Sect 15 of the OSH Act. The Judiciary, however, has argued that the staff action is a breach of established procedure.