- Junior Dowie Lambert Brown, first vice-president of the University and Allied Workers Union, right, with drafts of agreements proposed to settle the interdicted warders issue at the St. Catherine Prison Oval yesterday. From left in the picture are Corporal Maurice Jones and Woman Corporal Marva Minott. Behind them is the deejay at the event.
Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
THE MAJORITY of some 800 prison warders who were interdicted in January 2000 should be back at work on Wednesday, says Lambert Brown, first vice-president of the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU).
At a meeting with scores of the anxious prison warders at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday, Mr. Brown announced a tentative resolution to the 27-month impasse which prevented the warders from seeking other employment during their agonising wait.
However, Mr. Brown, before making the announcement, chided the warders for their record of unprofessionalism over the years and warned that they will have to do better in the future.
"Too much of you doing favour for inmate and then the inmate turn around and mess you up," he said. "The trafficking of drugs, contraband, knives and whatever, stop it."
An agreement was finally signed between the unions representing the workers and National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, yesterday morning, after months of presenting and deliberating over several different drafts of an agreement to settle the issue. The agreement will not be final until it is approved by Cabinet tomorrow.
"If the Cabinet approves it (the agreement) on Monday, on Tuesday morning we will have the formal signing," said Mr. Brown.
While not revealing the intricacies of the agreement, Mr. Brown noted that the interdicted warders were categorised under two different lists: list A and list B. Those warders whose names appear on list A, which it was noted were in the majority, will have the option of resuming work with full pay on Wednesday or as soon as possible after that date.
Those warders whose names appear on list B, said Mr. Brown, have been recommended for dismissal. However, these cases will be reviewed under the terms of the agreement and their situation can also change.
While explaining that all the warders, those on both list A and B, will be receiving compensation for the years they have been out of work as a result of the impasse, he said the terms of the agreement will be announced in detail at a press conference on Tuesday, which would look at the payment schedule for back pay which will be done in November and early next year.
Arrangements are, however, being made to give returning workers some compensation in May to help them with expenses in their first month back at work.
Warders breathed sighs of relief and made shouts of approval to the agreement yesterday.
"Ah the best possible way this, no prolong it no further" said one 48-year-old warder who did not wish to give his name.
The man who has more than 20 years of service in the Correctional Services said he is sure he will be on list A if they are going by records only.
"I can prove that I was sick," he said.
The warders were interdicted on quarter-pay in January 2000, pending the hearing of disciplinary charges against them, for staging a sick-out in protest against the re-appointment of Lt. Col. John Prescod as Commissioner of the Correctional Services.
