For four years he was the programme director at the Institute of Creative Arts but tonight Leroy Green is jobless. The veteran educator and promoter of the arts was fired yesterday. An official release from NICH - the National Institute of Culture and History says Green was fired because of non-performance and financial mismanagement.
NICH says Green failed to turn in reports on time. But Green says that's just not sure; he claims he was fired because he tried to join a union. Green had led workers on a move to join the Christian Workers' Union to fight for overtime pay they allegedly weren't receiving from NICH. Green was livid this morning when he spoke to us. He says his termination came via a letter hand delivered by ICA's Director William Neal.
Leroy Green, Terminated
"He walked in the office and he said, 'here is your letter of termination.' I looked up and said for what and he said to read it and he brought a security guard along to escort me out of the building.
When I opened the letter, the letter said, the gist of the letter is that failure to hand I report for the High School Festival of the Arts which was completed in February and the Pre-School Festival of the Arts which had just been completed the Saturday before. That was quoted in the letter.
He went on to say that this adds up to lack of managerial oversight. The letter also quoted that my performance has been spiraling downward and our professional relationship had deteriorated beyond repair. That is the gist of the letter. I still don't know what he means by 'our professional relationship has deteriorated beyond repair,' because I have been doing my work. He has been claiming that I am not doing my work."
Keith Swift,
The letter says that the reason for your termination was because of your performance. What do you believe to be the real reason?
Leroy Green,
"I truly and honestly believe it is because we recently joined the Christian Workers Union."
Keith Swift,
Do you believe that this is personal between yourself and Mr. William Neal?
Leroy Neal,
"I wouldn't want to say it is personal. I am still at a loss because he claims it is purely professional."
Keith Swift,
Leroy what's next, what do you want? Do you want your job back? What are you going to do now?
Leroy Neal,
"As I said to one news media who contacted me this morning, I don't know how they heard about it, but I am on the fence about wanting my job back and everybody knows I love dealing with drama. I have been there long before NICH was even formed. I have been working voluntarily with the old Bliss from the time of Miss Bev days.
What I want the public to know is that as far as I know I have not done anything wrong. If I have breached their policy in anyway, I want them to show me that in black and white. And if I had, they should have given me forewarning."
Green claims credit for the high school festival of arts and the pre-school festival of the arts.
So what does William Neal have to say about all this? Well he told us it's nothing personal between him and Green. Neal says that leroy green simply wasn't doing his job and the record will speak for itself if it goes to court. Coincidentally the mismanagement of funds Green is accused of concerns the recently concluded pre-school festival of the arts. Green says he personally raised funds for the event. NICH says he did so inappropriately. The primary school festival of the arts is still scheduled to proceed without Green in May.
And as a closing note, NICH says it welcomes the plan by the workers to join the Christian Workers Union. Fifteen out of the twenty two employees have reportedly signed on.
