C.W.U. says ‘Everything Positive’ with the S.S.B.

The Christian Workers Union and the Social Security Board are in dialogue over the conditions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. After the recent announcement that the board would be hiring a deputy C.E.O., the union claims that the post was not adequately advertised, which they maintain is contradictory to the conditions of the agreement. However, Leonora Flowers, president of the C.W.U., says that the parties have since been in discussion about the matter, and she expects positive progress in the future.

 

Leonora Flowers, President, C.W.U.

“We are getting to those as we speak. We have different meetings set up and we’re going to work to those. Everything’s positive going forward.”

 

 

 

Reporter

“Are there any details you can share with us because I believe the last time we spoke with miss Ruiz, she  said she wasn’t aware that there were any issues.”

 

Leonora Flowers

“Since then, we have sat down with the C.E.O. and her team, management, and we have discussed those issues. Most of them have been reviewed in a positive light, positive form so far and we have others that we have to work on.”

 

Reporter

“So in light of what you’ve just said do you guys have like maybe an estimated timeline when you’re hoping to have all those discussions wrapped up?”

 

Leonora Flowers

“Not yet.  Because we go back to the table again. The timeline is not yet set. We have more dialogue to do.”

 

Reporter

“Is the issues, is it that there were problems with what was currently in the C.B.A.? Is there a signed C.B.A. and was it things inside that needed to be changed?”

 

Leonora Flowers

“No, not really change. It’s just that management needs to be reminded every so often that the C.B.A. says this. And so when you step out the line, the union has to say you’re stepping out the line and we expect you to abide by those. That’s how we did. And that’s how we continue to do every time we sit with SSB,  remind them that the C.B.A. stands, that’s like our Bible for our members. So if you step out the line, we have to remind you. There’s a process to do that. So that’s what we did. We sat at the table. You’re not doing this. We don’t believe we think you’re disrespecting our members. We think you’re going and we cannot allow this to continue So that’s what we continue to do every time.”

 

Trisha Perez, Education Director, N.T.U.C.B.

“I do know that it’s something new to SSB and new to our union members as well. What I do believe I’ve been informed of is that they don’t do promotions in S.S.B. They generally do interviews and lately they did some promotions and that’s something new. Which goes against the C.B.A. Along with that, recently I believe they Change it from promotion to reclassification, which is also something new. And when you’re dealing with terms and conditions of workers that are covered under a collective bargaining agreement, you should be going within the guidelines of that C.B.A. So there is some  friction there. I know, but I don’t have an update for you as yet.”