A government security worker said she has been victimized after she was reassigned from her position for allegedly taking part in industrial action at the Ministry of Works on August 1; however, ministry officials have disputed her version of events.
Valerie Otto, who worked at the Burma Quarry, said she was abruptly moved to a different shift on Wednesday after her supervisor informed her that she would no longer be working at the quarry. Otto believes the reassignment came as punishment for speaking out about workers’ rights during the labour dispute.
” I was working at the Burma Quarry, and from Wednesday, my supervisor called me and told me that I am no longer working up there, I am assigned to her shift. So, they moved me from one place to the next,” Otto explained.
She said the timing is particularly suspicious given her history with transfer requests. Otto said that she had previously asked to be reassigned, but the request was denied.
“When I had previously asked to be reassigned and I was told that I would not be reassigned because I am the person who really gets to work early. So, they weren’t going to really move me since I am the one that they can really depend on to work.
“Listen, this is a norm. As long as you speak out for your rights, this is what is going to happen. This is where victimization comes in. So long as you stand up for your rights, this is what is going to happen. So, it’s a thing that runs in Public Works Security departments,” Otto stated.
She noted workers lack adequate representation, which is why they have resorted to industrial action. “So, we don’t have anyone to speak out for us. So that’s why we’re doing this. So, this is something that really happens a lot to a lot of workers. As long as they speak their mind, this is what’s going to happen,” Otto said.
Despite the alleged retaliation, Otto remains undeterred and said she will continue fighting for workers’ rights.
However, the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Works, Damani Tabor, disputed Otto’s allegations.
“So, I made an inquiry into the matter with Ms Otto, and the facts are that the request for transfer from the quarry was made on Wednesday, 30th July — at least the most recent request — in the presence of the HR executive, Ms Hamlin,” Tabor said.
“The request was granted, and the effective date of the requested transfer was to be the 1st of August. So clearly, there is no malice; the transfer was made upon request and has nothing to do with the current industrial dispute that is being resolved through the authorized bargaining agent, which is the AT&LU,” Tabor said.
He acknowledges that Otto may have been denied transfers in the past but said recent operational changes within the security department created new opportunities.
“That may have well been the case. In fact, recent operational changes were made within the security department, including at the quarry. So, the request was made, again, most recently on the 30th of July, within the context of the operational changes, and it was granted,” he said.
According to Tabor, the transfer was processed properly with appropriate oversight.
“The request was put to the HR in the presence of somebody else who was vouching for the fact that they would welcome an effort to be used in a different vein. So, it was all done with concept. There’s no truth to the fact that this was in response to industrial action or any other factor, except the request that was made, which was ultimately granted effective August 1st,” he said.
“The request for transfer was granted. So, we don’t understand the contrary statements that were being made; the request was honoured,” he said.
