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PRESIDENT'S
WELCOME
President-Mary Isaac
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We feel privileged
and honored to be welcoming you, our members,
potential members and every one of you who have chosen
our site. We have worked very hard to make this
facility available to you. Recognizing the need to be
able to communicate with you at all levels in these
ever changing environment has finally brought to us
the realization that if you won’t avail yourselves to
us, then we may very well avail ourselves to you. |
CLICK HERE TO READ OUR DECEMBER NEWSLETTER
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WHERE IS OUR LABOUR CODE?
In
2006, the St. Lucia Labour Party passed the Labour
Code so as to give protection to workers who, most
times, were being exploited by the Employers. The
Labour Code did not take effect due to the results of
the 2006 General Elections, which saw the coming into
office of the United Workers Party, under the
leadership of Sir John Compton. Soon after that, the
newly appointed Minister of Labour, Hon. Stephenson
King indicated that one of his Government’s priorities
was to enact the Labour Code. However, he was of the
opinion that some amendments to the existing document
were required.
After
the unfortunate demise of Sir John, the Labour
portfolio was handed over to Hon. Edmund Estephane,
who again promised that the Labour Code would have
been passed as a matter of urgency. After some more
consultation in 2010, a much
WATERED DOWN
version of the Code was presented to the House of
Assembly for debate in 2011. With
some more amendments, both the lower and upper houses
approved the now named “Labour Act”.
read more...... |
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GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS
After
having submitted our proposals to the Government of
St. Lucia last year (2010), the parties eventually met
on September 20, to commence negotiations.
This
first meeting was really introductory and was used to
establish certain guidelines for the smooth conduct of
the negotiations.
The
Government Negotiating Team, at that time, had not
responded to our proposals, and the CSA took the
position that it would not be involved in any further
negotiations until it had received counter proposals
from the Government Team in keeping with established
Industrial Relations practice.
The
Government Team responded sometime in October, and
presented us with their counter proposals which, to
say the truth, was quite shocking. A number of
items/clauses in our agreement which were fought for
over the years were being targeted for removal from
the Collective Agreement.
This
move suggests that this round of negotiations is going
to be an uphill battle, and all members are,
therefore, being asked to keep their eyes and ears
opened, and to agitate and be advocates for fairness
and justice as fair as their rights and privileges are
concerned.
The
parties are scheduled to meet in November, and all
members shall be informed of any progress made via
different media.
Since
the writing of the first part of this article, the CSA
and Government Negotiating Team have met on two (2)
more occasions, and have been able to reach agreement
in a number of articles. Our earlier conclusion that
the Government had intended to exclude certain items
from the agreement, was clarified by Government’s
Negotiating Team and as a result, paved the way for
cordial, frank and fruitful discussions.
The
important areas of wages/salaries and other monetary
fringe benefits have not been settled. It is hoped
that these important matters will be discussed at the
next round of negotiations
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HEALTH AND SAFETY
WORKSHOP
The St.
Lucia Civil Service Association (CSA) held a two (2)
day Occupational Health and Safety Workshop on
December 5 and 6, 2011, at the CSA’s Auditorium, Sans
Souci, Castries. This activity was a collaborative
effort between the CSA, Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL)
and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Our
target group included trade union officials, media
personnel, members of OHS groups, employees of
Government departments and staff of the CSA. The
facilitator for this important and timely workshop was
Mr. Andres Griffith, Health and Safety Consultant.
This workshop was viewed as a Train-the-Trainers
course and should ensure continuity in building
awareness amongst all stakeholders and also build
capacity in the areas of Occupational Safety and
Health and hazard identification. The number of
participation was deliberately restricted to twenty
(20), in order to allow for total participation and
dialogue. A perusal of the evaluation forms suggests
that the workshop was a great success. The
participants felt, however, that due to the technical
nature of the exercise, more time should have been
allocated for group discussions. It is anticipated
that those persons who participated in this exercise
would use this knowledge and experience to ensure that
the work environment within the public service is made
as safe and hazard free as possible.
Photo
gallery
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COCKTAIL RECEPTION FOR 60TH
ANNIVERSARY
Our celebrations continued on
Saturday 28th with a grand cocktail reception for the
members. At that reception, the Union gave tokens of
appreciation to a number of members who over the
years gave sterling contribution towards the
development of the organization. Among those were the
Past presidents, members of standing committees and
past and present executive members. The activity
climaxed with a dance session with music by a popular
DJ.
Click here (Photo
gallery)
to view pictures of the cocktail reception.
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MAY DAY
2011
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The CSA in collaboration with the Trade
Union Federation (TUF) held its May day Celebration on
Sunday May 1st 2011 with the theme – “Workers,
The Path To Development". The Activity was
scheduled to begin at 10:00 am but heavy showers
during the morning contributed to a late start. The
weather also contributed to the small turnout by
workers but as the day passed, more workers ventured
the rains to celebrate.
The Minister of Labour Hon. Edward
Estaphane addressed the members making the
announcement that the labour code would become law
very soon. The gathering also received solidarity
messages from the leaders of the CSA, Teacher’s Union
(SLTU) and the Police Welfare Association.
Members of the various political
parties also gave solidarity messages to the workers.
The guest speaker was Mrs. Virginia
Albert Poyotte, a Past president of the SLTU who
encouraged the leaders to keep struggling for the
rights of workers while ensuring the workers gave a
fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay.
The activity culminated with
entertainment by local calypsonians Herb Black, Kakal,
Lady Lynn and Robbie.
click here (Photo
gallery)
to view may day pictures |
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After School Program (Members, please call the
Secretariat to register your children).
Programme
purpose:
Assist
members/staff children in preparation for CXC
Course:
Principle of Business
TARGET GROUP: Secondary
level, Form 4 and Form 5
TIME:
Saturdays (tentative)
Starting: April 2011
TUTOR: Wilfred
Pierre, Bsc. Msc. (Management) MBA
Fourteen
(14) years of teaching, Business Management at Sir
Arthur Lewis
Community College (Continuing Education)
PRICE:
FREE
for members children ONLY
PLACE:
CSA Auditorium
SPACE
IS LIMITED, APPLY NOW
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HOUSING SYMPOSIUM
In order to
assist its members to access affordable housing, the
Saint Lucia Civil Service Association (CSA) has
proposed the establishment of a Housing Cooperative;
and has identified financial institutions with which
to collaborate.
In so doing the CSA has organized a
Housing Symposium, to help members understand how the
financial institutions can assist in accessing
affordable housing..
The institutions invited to make
presentations at both sessions include: the Department
of Cooperatives, Financial Investment and Consultancy
Services (FICS), St. Lucia Development Bank (SLDB),
St.Lucia Mortgage and Finance (SLMF) and the St. Lucia
Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union (CSCCU).
The CSA plans to conduct a housing need
survey in the branches served by the Union and to
educate members about cooperative housing. Below are
pics from the symposium.
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Visit our photo gallery for more pics
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INSURANCE CORNER
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IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE GROUP MEDICAL
PLAN
SARGICOR OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD
FEBRUARY 1 - 28, 2012
Sagicor Life Inc. has offered an open
enrollment period to all eligible CSA members
interested in becoming part of the plan. The period
commences February 1 and ends on February 28, 2012 and
is in respect of the CSA/SAGICOR Group Medical/Life
Benefits Policy #GU2400551 CariCare Advantage.
The requirement of the submission of a
completed Group Health Questionnaire has been waived.
Coverage will become effective March 1, 2012, provided
the relevant premiums are paid.
Interested members are required to
complete the attached enrolment form and submit same
with the payment of their first premium or the
difference in premiums, should a member wish to change
his/her status.
The form should be returned to the
Secretariat no later than February 28th, 2012.
Please note that members, who were
declined coverage previously, will not be eligible for
this offer. |
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DRAFT
CONSTITUTION
A copy of the draft constitution is
available for your scrutiny and comments. Please take
some time to read it and make your comments. Please
remember that your feedback is important in this
process.
Click here to view and download
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CARIBBEAN BEST PRACTICES
IN PUBLIC SERVICE POLITICAL DIRECTORATE
INTERFACE
Presented to
the 40th Annual Conference of the CPSA,Georgetown,
Guyana
July 11-17,
2010
By Wayne St. A.
Jones, OD
Click here for
full article |
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MESSAGE BY DAVID DEMACQUE, GENERAL SECRETARY, CSA
As
the year 2011 ends, CSA and its members look forward
to 2012. The new National Executive Committee (NEC)
which was elected at the 14th
Biennial Convention is charged with the responsibility
and undertaking of the CSA in 2012.
The members of the newly elected NEC include: Mary
Isaac (President),
Wilfred Pierre (1st
Vice President), Cyprian Montrope (2nd
Vice President), Emmanus Alfred (3rd
Vice President), Patrick Mathurin (Secretary), Melissa
Joseph (Treasurer), with Monica Williams, Sabina Belizaire and Peterson Satney (Trustees).
Based on the planned activities of the CSA for 2012,
the members of the CSA have reason to look forward for
improved services and benefits. For example,
negotiations that were delayed will be completed; a
revised Constitution will be adopted; the NEC is
seeking to improve the Group Medical Plan in favour of
members; work on the establishment of a Housing and
Workers Multipurpose Cooperative will be completed,
together with other aspects of benefits for members.
And so, as 2011 closes and we prepare for the opening
of 2012, members are encouraged to keep their
interests in the activities of the Union.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the
National Executive Committee and staff of the
Secretariat to wish all members a peaceful, productive and
prosperous 2012.
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CSA
/ RCI - PITON PARTY IN DE YARD !!
CSA DOMINOE COMPETITION
Click here (Photo
gallery)to see more pictures on the
sports page
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HURRICANE TOMAS
The
National Executive Committee (NEC) of the St. Lucia
Civil Service Association (CSA) takes the opportunity
to sympathize with all its members and workers of St.
Lucia, generally, who have suffered losses due to
damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Tomas.
The
Union wishes that its members and employees in the
Government Service, where there are damages caused by
an influx of water, to lend a hand in the clean-up
effort and to work closely with Government to ensure
the continued delivery of public services at a time
when it is most needed.
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