Joseph Keeping an Eye on SIC

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Business News

Monday, 13 February 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - “I am like the cartoon character The Hulk. The more I fight the stronger I get,” said AT&LU Shop Steward Dave Joseph, whose employment status at State Insurance Corporation (SIC) will soon be made redundant.

Joseph told Caribarena.com that he was watching the situation at the insurance company carefully, and would not allow it to deter him from the representation he provides to the employees.

Last week, the management of SIC announced its intention to employ more technology, which would see render Joseph's position as risk inspector obsolete.

Joseph represents the line staff at the SIC, and has told Caribarena.com that he remains on the job in that capacity.

Caribarena was told that Joseph has, since the announcement, been asking for clarification on certain points of his pending unemployment and other policy-related moves by the company.

A source close to the situation also noted, “It would also appear as if State Insurance Corporation have been tardy on certain matters having to do with the Long Service Award, a benefit that was discussed before the labour commissioner when the negotiations were at the Labour Department level."

AT&LU Industrial Relations Officer Ralph Potter said of the meeting, “That was the first indication that we had outside of the divestment issue that has been on the back burner for a while. When we had that meeting we did inquire for an update on the divestment, and we were told that there was no new information."

SIC's management said during the meeting it would not be able to say what other positions in the company would be made redundant by the technological upgrade until the latter part of 2012.

Potter said the union was assured that there would be further discussions, particularly over concerns about whether SIC has a proper system in place should to manage terminations.


The industrial relations office said the union also sought clarification on the insurance company’s announcement three weeks ago from Chairman Pedro Corbin that it was in its best financial standing since the recession.

“We have said to them that that being the case, they would have to be able to really answer the question of why let people go when you are doing so well," Potter said. "Usually companies or entities don't cut staff when they are doing the best they have ever done."

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