Duke: PM cannot make public servants go to work

PUBLIC Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke has questioned the Prime Minister's reasoning and motives for ordering a full turnout to work of public-service staff – a reversal of his previous rostering of employees on shifts of 50 per cent capacity. This was done to improve physical distancing to curb the spread of covid19.

On Saturday, Dr Rowley called for a full turnout and also lifted the ban on recreation at beaches, cinemas, casinos and gyms as of Monday, but not for dining in restaurants or drinking inside bars.

Duke said taxis and buses must still operate at half capacity, while limits remain on attendance at gatherings, even as the covid19 death toll continues to rise.

“We are not out of the covid woods as yet."

Duke said the PM had begun a 50 per cent roster for the public service so as to protect workers, but then removed it on Saturday without giving a reason why. He said the PM has still kept some protective measures for the likes of religious worshippers (by a one-hour service) and beachgoers (who must be in small groups), but public servants must return to work full throttle.

“If you know the public service, it is a place where people are cramped for space. A lot of the places are overstaffed.

“But to let public officers know their place, he is saying, ‘All you play fast and loose, I go teach you all manners. Get back to work. All of you.' And nobody dare tell him anything.”

Duke said Rowley’s statement violated workers’ fundamental rights under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. He said this law mandates every employer to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of workers, with employees also obliged to protect their health and being entitled to report their concerns and to walk off the job.

“Corona, it’s an invisible enemy and we are not out of the woods yet.”

Using strong language, he accused the PM of high-handedness in ordering public staff back to work, while he was in Tobago allegedly "living it up."

Duke also said the Children Act says if anything goes wrong with a child who is supposed to be under a parent or guardian’s care, the latter will be jailed.

Parents/guardians are torn between going to work and not leaving their child unattended, he lamented.

Duke said the Public Service circular No 3 of 2020, agreed to by the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and PSA, also protected staff who take care of their children.

It also says public servants who are locked out of TT during the pandemic must be paid their salaries, while anyone in close contact with a covid19-infected person or who is experiencing viral symptoms can take time off work.

Threatening that public servants could revolt, Duke said, “You are protected by three pieces of legislation.”

He said he was speaking with attorneys to examine the PM’s remarks to see if an injunction could be lodged against him, and even to see if the PM’s words had endangered people’s lives by exposing them covid19.

Duke urged employees with children under 16 to stay home to take care of them, to notify their employer in writing and send a copy of such a letter to the PSA.

“You have served notice. Leave, stay home with your child. You are not asking for permission; you are taking permission.”

Newsday was unable to contact Minister of Public Administration Allyson West or Public Service head Maurice Suite for comment.