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  • 2 years ago
On the heels of a TV6 News story, aired last night, with MIC trainees voicing concerns about how their programme was being run, The MIC Institute of Technology has suspended a Senior Instructor as it conducts an investigation into what it describes as "the disclosing of confidential information of the company." The representing Trade Union sees it as victimization.

Alicia Boucher has the latest update.
Transcript
00:00 The heels of a TV6 news story aired last night with MIC trainees voicing concerns about how
00:06 their program was being run.
00:08 The MIC Institute of Technology has suspended a senior instructor as it conducts an investigation
00:15 into what it describes as a disclosing of confidential information of the company.
00:21 The representing trade union sees it as victimization.
00:24 Alicia Boucher has the latest update.
00:28 A senior instructor at the MIC Institute of Technology in Macquarie showed up for work
00:33 on Thursday morning, only to be ordered to vacate the premises a few hours later.
00:38 Confirmation of this comes from the Public Services Association.
00:42 Based on the suspension letter that TV6 News has obtained, the three-week suspension, which
00:48 runs from February 8 to February 29, is with pay pending an investigation on the grounds
00:55 of 1) disclosing confidential information of the company without authorization or unauthorized
01:02 or inappropriate use of information from the company and 2) any deliberate malicious action
01:09 which may bring the company into disrepute or jeopardize the survival of the organization.
01:15 The letter goes on to say, "MICIT has received information that suggests that you allegedly
01:22 disclosed confidential information that may have rendered our brand in a negative light.
01:28 This act constitutes a breach in the offences as outlined within the Human Resources Policy
01:34 and Procedures Manual 2014 as mentioned above."
01:40 The letter also outlines the penalty for the offences listed as dismissal.
01:46 Based on the document, MIC says an investigator would be appointed in the first instance and
01:52 the majority union would be informed of the person MIC recommends in this regard.
01:57 Well, General Secretary of the PSA Kellon Wallace tells TV6 News that the action is
02:02 being viewed as victimization against the instructor.
02:06 Again, the MIC has moved high-handed with respect to again trying to keep the workers
02:16 and more so the membership of the PSA in line.
02:21 Mr. Ramla would have just finished a matter with the MIC where he was assaulted and it
02:28 took forever for the MIC to address his issue.
02:31 The union had to step in to treat with his matter, for him not to take it outside.
02:37 Wallace says a police report was made and that's one of the reasons he believes MIC
02:42 has taken the present course of action.
02:45 How can we not look at this as a strike back on the member?
02:51 On Wednesday, a trainee who spoke with TV6 on condition of anonymity in the story titled
02:57 MIC MAP Program Woes, relayed concerns of inadequate tools for trainees to do their
03:03 work nor approved curriculum or course outline for pneumatics and hydraulics, which MIC admitted
03:09 to and high instructor absenteeism, which MIC said it would investigate.
03:15 There's suspension based on what was relayed to me on the story that I would have seen
03:20 last night, trying to figure out how my member and instructor at the MIC can be suspended
03:28 for such of what is reported.
03:31 And what is reported is not a lie.
03:33 I can tell you unequivocally that is not a lie.
03:37 Wallace says he's uncertain if the instructors are being held to account for trainees not
03:42 signing these alleged agreements, but he tells us the PSA would be looking further into the
03:47 suspension.
03:49 What we have even at the MIC is the current chairman of the PSA section at MIC has been
03:54 suspended without pay, without a disciplinary process as it stands right now.
03:59 So we've seen this as a continued attack on our membership.
04:02 Furthermore, Wallace states that there are plans for to transfer the same instructor
04:08 from the year to class mid-semester.
04:10 The PSA says if these developments continue, then further action would have to be taken.
04:16 The membership along with the support, full support of the PSA will be taken in front
04:22 of the MIC to highlight these issues overall to the media on our own.
04:29 TV6 News contacted the acting general manager of the training division at MIC, Nathan Langine,
04:35 who said he prefers not to comment as the matter is under investigation.
04:41 Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
04:44 Well tonight, MIC is seeking to clarify further statements it made on Wednesday, where it
04:50 attributed the lengthy procurement process for equipment for the manufacturing and apprenticeship
04:56 program to the line ministry, the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
05:00 Chief Executive Officer of the Institute Anil Ramnarai now says there are challenges with
05:06 the delivery of MIC's programs, especially in practical areas, which accounts for most
05:13 of the training.
05:14 It has become increasingly difficult to purchase parts and equipment from foreign suppliers
05:21 in terms of procurement, which is compounded by long lead times due to shipping delays
05:28 in some instances.
05:31 Because of these challenges, new tools, including hand tools, are not always readily available.
05:40 So we have had to utilize used hand tools temporarily, which also mirrors the situation
05:48 often found in industry.
05:51 Meanwhile Ramnarai says the allegation of instructor absenteeism is a serious one which
05:57 MIC is actively investigating.
06:00 The CEO says occupational standards specifications adopted from its German partners are used
06:07 in relation to what the trainees are taught.
06:10 He's giving an assurance the institution remains committed to excellence in education.
06:16 And we'll ensure that the hopes and aspirations of our trainees are met through effective
06:23 program delivery.
06:25 Rest assured the trainees will receive the full and complete program of training before
06:32 leaving the institution, even if we have to spend a bit more time for which we have the
06:40 support of the government.
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