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.

Salary Review Exercise

The UCEO will be making representations regarding the salary review exercise and will eventually call for a meeting with Mr Appanah.

A report is being compiled by UCEO members and it will be sent to the committee in due time. The report will then be published here.
Suggestions from customs officers are welcomed.
Thank You.


UCEO.
We are united.

Update on UCEO's activities

The UCEO has more than 335 members till date.
Last week, a letter was sent to the Finance and Administration dept. to ask for check-off authorisations for members who have adhered to the UCEO.

The UCEO has therefore agreed to move forward by listing down the issues that it will look into, once recognition is achieved:

1. Adjustment of pension and retirement benefits.
2. Customs Officer I to be upgraded and aligned to grade 3 level [Customs Officer II].
3. Uniform issues 2010/ 2011 and payment of uniform allowances as from 2006.
4. All overtime and shift allowances that are due to Customs Officers must be settled once for all.
5. Introduction of saturday off system.
6. Introduction and follow-up of flexi-time management.
7. Provision for better welfare for Customs Officers: indoor games, subsidised canteen for all Customs Officers [ same as Cargo Handling].
8. Additional allowances for officers who have reached top salaries.
9. Duty free concessions, car allowances and non-taxable travel grants for Customs Officers [same as in Civil Service].
10. Annual leaves to be granted at the beginning of each calender year.
11. Annual unutilised sick leave to be refunded.
12. Increase accumulated leaves to 100.


UCEO.
We are united.

Meeting of Executive Members

The executive committee of the UCEO met today, 15.08.11, at noon at the NCH.

The agenda was mainly about the response of Customs Officers to the UCEO. The committee took note that nearly four hundred [400] Customs Officers have agreed to subscribe as members by forwarding their membership forms.

Based on this positive response, the committee has decided to set in motion the process to gain recognition.

The first step will consist of writing to our employer to inform them that the UCEO has nearly 400 members [for the time being] and it wishes to check-off a monthly subscription from the salary of the members, as required by law. The committee has agreed to write to the MRA by the end of this week.

The second step will be to call for a meeting with the DG and urge the MRA to accept the UCEO as a lawful body representing Customs Officers. 15th September has been set as a tentative deadline to gain recognition.

Finally feedback from Customs Officers joining the UCEO were reviewed and taken note of.


UCEO.
We are united.

Updates on activities of UCEO

Distribution of Revival Letters

As from today, 14/07/11, letters are being hand-delivered to each and every customs officer working at the Customs Department. Annexes include a membership form, a check off form and a letter explaining the motive of the UCEO.

The distribution begun today on the first floor of the NCH and will eventually spread to all sections based at Port-Louis, Pats, Arrival Hall and outstations. The UCEO expects to complete the distribution of letters by next week and to collect same by the end of July 2011.

Short-Term Objectives

The Executive Committee has also drawn out a list of issues that it intends to discuss with the MRA as soon as the UCEO is recognised as a lawful body. The list is as follows:

1. There is a major issue of transportation of officers to and from NCH in the morning and during lunch time. Customs officers have to force their way into crammed vans to make sure that they are transported to the city centre during lunch.

2. Customs officers are not allowed to park their vehicles in front of the NCH as there are reserved slots for visitors.

3. Many Customs officers did not attend the End of Year celebrations organised by the MRA at L'Aventure du Sucre in December 2010 to ensure that there is no breakdown in services offered to the public. In return the above Customs officers were promised a refund of Rs 500 by the MRA. Unfortunately till date, the majority of officers are still waiting for the refund.

4. Out of 600 Customs officers, only a handful were invited to the inauguration of the NCH on 23rd Feb 2011. The DG later explained that it was not possible to accommodate all 600 officers and that very soon an Open Day will be organised for all Customs officers. Nothing till date.

5. The new uniforms are currently being distributed to Customs Officers in piece-meal. Some have received only ties and are waiting for trousers and shirts. Some have only received shirts and shoes. And they have to wear their old uniforms in the meanwhile.


The UCEO is open to all suggestions from Customs officers to improve their conditions at work. Feel free to comment on this page or send your feeback to redchannel.customs@gmail.com

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

Setting up of the Executive Committee

Following the annual general meeting of the Union of Customs and Excise Officers on Wednesday 29th June 2011 at the New Customs House, 11 members were elected to sit on the Executive Committee [no election was necessary as only 11 members sent their letter of candidature].

The first meeting was held today, 7th July 2011, at the New Customs House to decide the office bearers. Present were Ms T.Purdasy, Mr A.Ramtally, Mr T.Benidin, Mr Lotun, Mr M. Dhondee, Mr S.Rojoa, Mr Y.Bholah, Mr M.Rassool, Mr P.Shamju, Mr A.Veerasamy and Mr Ganess.

The office bearers are as follows:
President- Mr P.Shamju
V.President- Mr Benidin
Secretary- Ms T. Purdasy
Asst. Secretary- Mr S. Rojoa
Treasurer- Mr A. Ramtally
Asst. Treasurer- Mr M.Rassool
P.R.O- Mr Y.Bholah
Executive members- Mr Ganess, Mr Lotun, Mr A. Veerasamy and Mr Dhondee.

Here we go !!!

Welcome to the blog of the Union of Customs and Excise officers of Mauritius. This blog will be one of the official mouthpiece of our union, where you can follow our activities, upcoming events and news. More to follow.
We are united.