00:00Workers at Bermuda's Biscuits adorned blackface masks with red ribbons.
00:05The move done in silent protest against their representing amalgamated workers' union.
00:10The employees, including some at the Port of Spain City Corporation,
00:14are calling for the removal of the president, Michael Prentice,
00:17the general secretary, Cassandra Tommy Dabrow,
00:20the treasurer, Jennifer Julian, and eight other retirees that they say sit on the executive.
00:25Daily Rated Worker at the City Corporation, Daryl Glodow,
00:30alleges that an issue arose when three trustees were first barred by the executive from carrying out their duties.
00:37He claims that they filed a Freedom of Information Act request
00:40and it led to another discovery pertaining to the AWU's bank account.
00:45They would have got to realize that they were replaced from a notification
00:52that was sent to the bank stating that the three bona fide trustees together with the treasurer
00:59were the authorized signatories of the account.
01:04And within about six weeks, two months, another notification was sent
01:09removing the three trustees from the signatory in the bank.
01:14But a $1.3 million loan that was taken out in 2017 is also caused for contention
01:20as the employees point to a conflict of interest.
01:24Glodow alleges that the AWU borrowed the money from one of the companies whose workers it represents.
01:30A promissory note was provided to us, which was attached to a case that was filed at a court by
01:36the trustees
01:37and later withdrawn.
01:39Workers believe it is hindering the union from carrying out its function properly.
01:43And the collective agreement states that once you work for more than three months,
01:48more than three months, you're supposed to be employed as a permanent employee.
01:56Thus far, we have people as much as nine and 13 years working still as a casual worker.
02:03So because of this loan, workers' rights have been compromised.
02:08The workers are worried about a present running of the AWU,
02:12saying the executive is operating illegally and in breach of the union's constitution.
02:18We are calling for them to be removed, right?
02:22We are calling also on the Minister of Labour to either install an interim committee
02:30or we are calling for them to hold our elections because our elections hasn't been held
02:35in the union since 2016, which is making it 10 years.
02:39TV6 News contacted President of the AWU, Michael Prentice.
02:43He informs us that a meeting was held with the executive last Wednesday
02:47pertaining to several irregularities and some decisions were taken.
02:52These decisions are yet to be communicated to the relevant stakeholders.
02:57Prentice says once this due process is followed through,
03:00a further response to the allegations will be forthcoming.
03:04Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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