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Workers of LIME Dominica stage sickout
However, while workers of LIME BVI Service Support and Delivery (SSD) Department are holding strong in the face of pending layoffs, those in the sister Caribbean country of Dominica have called in sick.
“Government is giving a blind eye in the Caribbean and they all need to come together as one Caribbean, including the BVI Government. The government was placed there by the people and we need to see them stand up for the people,” said an emotional employee of Dominica who spoke exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online.
Contacted, several of the local LIME SSD workers also supported this statement.
“LIME is saying that business is bad but we have evidence to show that a number of business units are getting sweet bills while we are getting zilch (nothing),” an aggrieved worker indicated.
As is the case in the VI and all the other Caribbean locations, LIME has outsourced its technical services to Ericsson and the company’s technical staff, which will be made redundant, are of the view that they will not be rehired by the Swedish company. The take-over in Dominica is set for November 25, 2013 while the management of LIME BVI is reluctant to give staff a definite date.
Workers of the Virgin Islands and Dominica are not happy with the redundancy package being offered by LIME on the basis that it should be equal to other regional islands. The two are said to be getting the least benefit in terms of severance pay package when compared to other Caribbean countries. “Records will show even the worst performing countries getting a better deal. And don’t tell me come USD, a dollar is a dollar is a man’s country but even if you do that we are the worst paid,” one worker of LIME Dominica said.
Depression and frustration have stepped in, resulting in the greater number of LIME Dominica’s Technical staff 'sicking-out' and those who spoke with this news site said that they are in solidarity with their brothers at LIME BVI.
Dominica News Online reported on October 31, 2013 that some 28 workers had called in sick.
"I respect my brothers at LIME there in the BVI, they are the stronger ones but they must not give up the fight. We are in this together. We are all now with medicals in our hands because of the frustration and injustices that we are facing here in Dominica and I know for sure my brothers are feeling it too, maybe more than us for all you may know," an employee of LIME Dominica told this news site.
When contacted on October 31, 2013 it was indicated that more than 75% of the technical staff of LIME Dominica had staged a sickout on the company because of the alleged level of injustice they said they are forced to put up with and to the extent that it is very hard for them to focus on their job.
"We aren't on a deliberate sick out, the conditions are real, we negotiating, we bargaining, we pleading our cause just like the BVI and the management don't seem to give a foot," said another.
"Look VINO, hypotension is a chronic condition I never had that problem up until now. This was induced because of the strain this company has us on and they not seeing it. I refuse to have LIME take bread out my family’s mouth cause that's just where it's heading, they going to kill me and my family will suffer but I will not have that, I staying my (hard word) home. My health comes first. Let LIME work their salvation out," another worker said.
Contacted, several of the technical workers at LIME BVI likely to face the unemployed line said that since the situation arose they have been spending hundreds of dollars on medical bills to keep themselves in working order.
The workers in Dominica and locally confirmed that the two countries are at the bottom of the ladder as it relates to the severance pay package agreement from LIME and they both blame the absence of strong Government representation.
"I bet the Government is going to make the time now to come bargain and talk with us. The whole system could crash, if I am not feeling well, the slightest headache I staying my butt home. They got to see us as important and treat us accordingly," said an employee of LIME Dominica.
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18 Responses to “Workers of LIME Dominica stage sickout”
(The Best) but LIME I cant say that about it.