Unite have issued a statement calling on Government and the GPA to clarify the ‘forced retirement’ of one of their members. 

A statement from Unite follows below:

Unite the Union, today (6^th March) wants to highlight the disappointment being felt as a result of the delays in clarifying the matter of our member who is being forced to retire.

Unite the Union and its GPA Launch Crew membership have sought clarity from HMGOG and the GPA numerous times, to which the only response received thus far is the press release from the 25^thFebruary responding to our declaration of an industrial dispute. In this response HMGOG only stated that it was categorically not a redundancy but made no mention of the collective agreement not being affected by this decision. Unite disputes this and would ask for the justification of the forced retirement as well as its implications to be made clear.

Unite and its members are in disbelief as to why the justification for the decision is not yet known. The situation is having a negative impact on our member who only wishes to continue their service. Unite made its position known through a letter dated 18^thFebruary stating that it was a redundancy to suit the GPA and HMGOG’s aim of reducing headcount, as was made clear through a consultation letter presented to the union. No formal response has been received thus far, and this is unacceptable.

Donovan Correia Unite Regional Officer stated “It is shameful that we are over two weeks since formally writing to HMGOG and there has been no response or clarity on the situation. Employees deserve clear justifications for any decisions affecting them and should not be waiting this long when the stakes are so high.”

“The clarification is ever more important when the members consider the implications to their collective agreement. Should the decision stand and the justification be redundancy, HMGOG and the GPA would have unilaterally breached the GPA’s collective agreement. Something Unite shall never allow to any Public Sector Collective Agreement.”