by Liinda Straker
- 5 workers fired in August 2022 represented by Humphrey and Associates
- “Carriacou 5” represented by Grenada Public Workers Union
- Third publicly known instance where ruling administration made to compensate workers deemed unjustly terminated financially
The Government of Grenada has paid out millions in settlements to workers who labour officials said were dismissed unjustly when the ruling Dickon Mitchell–National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration became the government following the June 2022 General Elections.
Within weeks of becoming the new government, several workers were dismissed from their contractual government jobs without the compensation being mandated in national law or through labour agreements.
Several of these matters were taken to the Ministry of Labour for resolution, while others were taken to court for remedy. The latest to receive compensation are the “Carriacou 5” whose union is the Grenada Public Workers Union (GPWU). Chester Humphrey from the labour consultancy firm of Humphrey and Associates negotiated on behalf of another 5 people.
In an information bulletin sent out to its membership, the GPWU said that collectively the workers it represented received EC$168,499.63. “These were 5 low-income workers giving service to the Government of Grenada. They had all been employed with the government for many years, the longest in excess of 18 years and the least nine years,” said the bulletin, which was published 48 hours before the annual Labour Day celebrations on 1 May.
The 5 represented by Humphrey and Associates were fired in August 2022 and were attached to the Ministry of Infrastructure and had served up to 10 years each in some instances.
Humphrey said it took a long while for this case to go through the grievance process as outlined in the labour law. At a news conference, he noted that Humphrey and Associates had to threaten the Labour Department with court action seeking a declaration from the court that would mandate the Labour Commissioner to hear the case.
The case was heard without an order from the court, and the 5 women were awarded compensation for their years of service, including an additional payment covering up to December 2024, which implied that they were still workers up to that time.
“All 5 workers were found to be unfairly terminated,” said Humphrey who disclosed that the Labour Commissioner agreed that notwithstanding the fact that the termination took place in August 2022 the workers will be treated as if they were still on the job up to December 2024 and they contract will go back from the time the contract was issued up to 31 December 2024.
It is not clear the total amount to be paid out to the 5 represented by Humphrey and Associates, but this is the third publicly known instance where the ruling administration is made to financially compensate workers who were deemed to be unjustly terminated from their contract with the government.
In October 2022, the Government terminated the service of Laren Kay Simon from her post as a legal officer at the Attorney General‘s Chambers. She sought redress in the court, and in her ruling, Justice Agnes Actie agreed that the termination of Simon contravenes Section 88(2) of the Constitution of Grenada and is null, void and of no effect.
“The defendants shall pay the claimant the fees for the unexpired term of her contract with the Government of Grenada, for the period April to November 2023, inclusive with interest at the rate of 3% from the date of filing the claim until judgment and at the rate of 6% from the date of judgment until payment in full. The defendants shall pay the claimant vindicatory damages in the sum of $20,000.00 for distress and inconvenience,” the justice instructed.
