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NTUCB Protests: Blocks SSB Board Meeting
posted (January 29, 2015)
The Social Security Board of directors was supposed to meet today - and they were supposed to welcome two new board members, but the meeting had to be aborted because they couldn't get a quorum. And that's because the two union representatives did not show up in protest - and a board meeting cannot be held without at least one board member present.

The National Trade Union Congress is protesting because one of its new designates to the board, CWU General Secretary Floyd Neal had his appointment rejected by government. SSB says it would be a conflict of interest because as Secretary General of the Christian Workers Union, Neal also represents and is a principal negotiator on behalf of the Social Security workers. And because of that the Board asked the NTUCB to submit another name. But the NTUCB held its ground and advised SSB that their appointed directors will not be attending board meetings until Neal has been formally appointed.

A statement from the board this evening said, quote, "This position by the Union is unfortunate because the board was scheduled to review the proposals for a new collective agreement…Additionally the Board must also shortly meet to decide on the KPI bonus for the staff, and the Union's refusal to send their appointees to the meeting can only further delay the award and payment of bonus to the very staff that they represent." It continues, quote "Under the circumstances, the scheduled KPI bonus payments and the collective bargaining negotiations may have to be delayed."

The other union designate to the Board, BTL's Emily Turner has been approved and formally appointed.

We note that former CWU President Antonio Gonzalez served on the SSB board from 1999 to 2003.

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