Members of tribunals sworn in

CONCILIATION and arbitration tribunals for the Public Service and Teaching Service were sworn in yesterday.
This came after a 10-year period where there were no tribunals to hear cases.
Industrial conciliation and arbitration tribunal and minimum wages board chairperson Beverley Doiwa said there had been no tribunals because of several reasons.
The board comes under the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations.
Doiwa said a total of 12 members were sworn in – six for each tribunal – and all appointed by the National Executive Council.
“It just took a very longtime to get this tribunal in place for so many reasons, there was the continuous shift to offices with us, we moved from one office to another, and change of ministers, we had about six or seven ministers changed just this term of Parliament, so that affected a lot of matters,” she said.
Doiwa said getting organisations to nominate their members proved difficult.
“It takes up to two to three years for one organisation to come back with their nomination it changes and when they do not come back to us so it’s been difficult for the department so that has been a real challenge just trying to get reactions or responses from organisations be it the Public Service, the Teaching Service or the unions so that has been a real challenge.”
Doiwa said the tribunals would now address outstanding issues of the Public Service and Teaching Service that had not been addressed in the past year.
“Some cases include the National Weather Service and the Public Employees Association matter for housing allowance remains outstanding,” she said.
“We have not been able to address that.
“Now that the tribunal is in place, they can address this matter.”
Doiwa said the board was looking at reviewing legislation where they would have members appointed for longer than two years.