And we also asked the PSU president about the suit filed by the former president, Gerald Henry. We told you yesterday that Henry says the union owes him $6,641 after he accumulated 54 vacation days. He says that while the union accepts that he did accumulate them, they refuse to remunerate them.
Our newsroom also received a letter purportedly from the Caribbean Public Service Association, after discussing the matter with Flowers, came to the conclusion that Henry should be remunerated. This letter also stated that Flowers agreed to discuss the matter with his executive.
However, when we spoke to Flowers, he explained that he doesn't feel the issue is newsworthy since the regulations are clear on what should occur in this case. He went into further detail, but when we asked about the letter from the CPSA, he told us that he never had any such formal discussions with them, and that the letter does not really exist.
Dean Flowers, President, PSU
"I will do this reluctantly because I don't think that it's newsworthy, first of all, for me to discuss this situation or the individual in question. However, we're all public officers, there are rules and regulations that governs us, and the gentleman who you referenced, he has his rights, his rights are protected under the constitution, and we support him fully in exercising his rights."
"For our end, we will act within the confines of the law, as well as within the confines of the regulation which carries over with you as a president, considering that the union itself did not at the time of several of these serving presidents that he speaks of, there was no manual or handbook in place to govern the secondment of the president, that is now in place."
"So, failing that, then when you went over to the union, you went over with your terms and conditions of service in place, as if you were a public officer, and the regulations speak specifically on holiday leaves before you proceed on secondment, which obviously would translate to before you enter back the public service, and the good brother, because I still consider him a brother, is fully aware of that, because he knows he has to exhaust before you come over, and in like manner, you would have to exhaust before you go over, that is in the regulation."
"So, he can start there in terms of preparing for whatever lawsuit or case he's putting forth."
Reporter
"What do you make of the Caribbean Public Service Association siding with him, and also stating in their letter that you you promise to discuss the matter with your executives seriously."
Dean Flowers, President, PSU
"I don't know that the Caribbean Public Service Association side with him. I personally have not seen any letter. I was baffled when somebody told me that there was a letter. I have not seen any letter from the CPSA."
"Furthermore, the CPSA is like any other group of bodies, affiliates coming together. Each affiliate of that wider body is autonomous. So the CPSA cannot dictate to an affiliate. However, I would invite you, or any member of the union, to share that purported letter in which the CPSA purports to support the gentleman's position."
"I have not seen one and I'm 100% certain that none exists."
The hearing will be held on November 30th.
