Elections at the UCEO

The Executive Committee of the UCEO met on Monday 02nd April 2012 at NCH at noon.


The committee took note of the developments regarding the UCEO case at the Employment Relations Tribunal and the next steps were discussed.


It was also agreed that elections at the UCEO will be held on 16th May 2012. Members who wish to stand as candidates for the elections are requested to forward their written application to the Secretary, Ms Purdassy.


The Annual General Meeting of the UCEO will be held soon and members will be informed accordingly.



UCEO
United we stand.

Employment Relations Tribunal [ERT]

The next hearing is scheduled for Monday 09th April 2012 at 11h00.

The MRASA requested the Tribunal to allow the MRASA to appear as third party in the case. The Tribunal agreed to the request.

The MRASA, through its counsel Mr A. Gayan, submitted a statement of case to explain their opposition to the recognition of the UCEO as a bargaining unit.

The matter will be debated on Monday 09th April at 11h00 at the ERT [Newton Tower].


UCEO
United we stand.

Hearing at Employment Relations Tribunal

The UCEO and the MRA were respectively represented by Mr Ramano and the SLO. The hearing started at 13h00 before Vice President Mr Janhangeer at Newton Tower and ended at 14h40.

Both counsels explained their clients' positions on the matter. Mr A.Ramtally and Mr S.Rojoa were called by Mr Ramano as witnesses and  the SLO called Mr V.Ramnundun [MRA] and Mr V.Damree [MRASA] as witnesses.

The hearing was postponed for Monday 26th March 2012 at 13h30. The Vice-President of the Tribunal reminded all parties involved that the case must be dealt with before the 30th March 2012.

UCEO.

No recognition for UCEO

The MRA informed UCEO, on 29th February 2012, that it has not acceded to the request of UCEO for recognition.

Subsequently UCEO has decided to bring the matter to the Employment Relations Tribunal.
The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 07/03/12 at 10 am at Newton Tower, Port Louis.


The letter is reproduced verbatim for the information of all UCEO members:

"With reference to your letter dated 02 February 2012, and further to our letter dated 24 February 2012, please be informed that the MRA has decided not to accede to the request of the UCEO to be granted recognition as a bargaining agent for the grades mentioned in your above dated letter.


You may wish to note that recognition has already been granted to the MRASA which represents all categories of employees of the MRA on the permanent establishment ( Grades 1- 5).


Signed by V. Ramnundun [Director , HR & Training]"



Updates of the hearing will follow.


UCEO
We are United.

UCEO wins the first round

The second preliminary meeting took place today, 22/11/11, before the Employment Relations Tribunal at 13h00.

The State Law Office, which represented the MRA, agreed to the check-off authorisation.

The UCEO is therefore proud to announce that check-off will start soon.

The next step will be to get recognition from the MRA, so that UCEO can negotiate/fight for the safeguard of Customs Officers' rights.

Thank You.


UCEO.
We are united.

Employment Relations Tribunal- Update 1

Both parties [ UCEO and MRA] were present today for the preliminary meeting at the Employment Relations Tribunal office.

The President of the Tribunal questioned the MRA over the check-off issue regarding UCEO. The State Law Office [SLO], which represents the MRA, asked for one week's time to look into the matter and to arrive to a decision.

The President agreed to the request of the MRA and called for another meeting in one week's time, that is 22nd November 2011.


UCEO
We are united.

Employment Relations Tribunal

UCEO sent a letter to the Director General of the MRA on 16th August 2011 to request for a check-off agreement for Customs Officers.

On 10th October 2011, the Union again wrote to the Director General to ask if a decision has been taken in connection with the check-off.

Since the MRA didn't reply to any of the letters, UCEO made an application to the Employment Relations Tribunal on 09th November 2011 regarding the check-off agreement. The President of the Tribunal called both parties [UCEO and MRA] for a preliminary meeting on Tuesday 15th November 2011 at 13h00 at Newton Tower.

Updates on the preliminary meeting will be published here in due time.

UCEO

We are united.

Salary Review Proposals

The report submitted to the Consultant for salary review is available on this blog on the top right corner.

It is important to remind members of UCEO that this report was compiled in less than 1 week's time and it is a combination of proposals from many Customs Officers and from Executive Members of the UCEO.

However the list of recommendations is not final and the UCEO reserves the right to make additional proposals in the forthcoming meeting with the Consultant, Mr Appanah.

Thank You.

UCEO.

President of the Union of Customs and Excise Officers

My name is Pramod Kumar Shamjhu and I am the new president of the Union of Customs and Excise Officers. I live at Triolet and I am currently posted at the Assessment Section, Level 3, New Custom House. I joined the Custom Department in May 2005.

I thank all executive members of the Union of Customs and Excise Officers for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to serve. I am sure that, in a near future, our union will become a major force that will command respect. To reach this target, I will be needing the unflinching support of all customs officers irrespective of ranks.  

Our prime objective is to cause all customs officer to become members of this union. Very soon all customs officers will receive letters from the union to explain how the subscription process. As soon as we have a majority of members, our employer will have no choice but to accept our union as a lawful body and open negotiations with us.

As it can be noted, we have opened many channels of communications to improve feedback. Feel free to comment and send in your valued suggestions via Facebook or this blog. Thank you.

We are united.

P. Shamjhu
President