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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