Incinerator workers want more money & interaction with Minister
The workers of the incinerator plant told Virgin Islands News Online that one of their main reasons for calling for the Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton to pay a visit is because they have many issues that need to be addressed, some they said they could not discuss with Virgin Islands News Online. "Some things are in-house issues and we think that it is fair that we deal with them from the inside and if we don’t get them sorted out like inside then we’ll have to take the next move of speaking out in the open,” said the worker.
They were, however, very vocal on the issue of their pay packets, claiming that their package at the end of the month was too small when compared to the level and nature of work that they are compelled to do on a daily basis. “We need more money for this kind of work that we doing, it aint easy working here and many times we bring this up with our management here they keep saying that they don’t have money, they dont have money and we here doing all the dirty work. They need to work out some sort of package to make us feel a bit better for us.”
They also complained of not being visited by Hon. Skelton as he has reportedly only made one visit since taking office. “We had given him a nice welcome that he didn’t get from none of the other departments and he should at least come and sit with us if it’s just for an hour. We got things to discuss that can be dealt with only if we can have a face to face interaction,” said another employee.
Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview, Hon. Skelton said he is aware of a number of challenges being experienced by the workers at the Plant. “The country has some serious waste management issues and it stems from physical resources to human resources but what we are trying to do is to improve on all of these things,” said Hon. Skelton.
“I go down there periodically without notice,” he said when asked about his visits to the plant. He emphasised that he is aware of some human resources issues that the workers are faced with that he needs to have addressed. “Work conditions, pay, well pay is a big problem in the country today everybody wants a little more money, I myself need a little more money.”
The Minister was high in commendation for the senior management of the Solid Waste Management saying that they have been doing a good job despite the many challenges that they are forced to face on a regular basis. “I must commend the waste management personnel. They do a good job at keeping the country clean. These are people some of them with minimum wages and things are getting expensive and we need to find ways of how we can assist them. Just raising salaries doesn’t really help because you raise salaries and the prices for stuff would go up so their disposable income remains the same,” said Hon. Skelton.
He said that along with the assistance of the present management, there are some efforts being made to address the concerns and working conditions of workers at the Plant. He also said that despite his very tight schedule, he will be making some effort for an official visit to workers at the plant in the near future.
19 Responses to “Incinerator workers want more money & interaction with Minister”
Do my eyes deceive me? Ronnie you want more money eh! LMFAO - mouth opens.....well sah! Mr. Minister enjoy your last days in office - many whom gave you a second chance after your crying like a baby - now they are regretting allowing you another term! Lol...you need more money what a crock of Sh!t!
I stand at a supermarket just now an see a supervisor call a young man to come lift some boxes, all he said I don, I don, don, don he walk up to the supervisor and say I quit, quit quit quit, see a you. There are more to get fustrated. It is not easy when some cannot reach the house rent , and some cannot reach their bank loan, and some cannot get water. Fustrated and desperate people are not to messed with, they can make life a living hell.
I GUESS THE BVI LANDERS CAN DO ALL THINGS BY THEM {MFing} SELF.....YEAH! SUREEEEEEEEEEE!! IGNORANT @ZZ!