A NEW Collective Agreement signed last Friday by representatives of the National Workers Union and management and employees of the Castries Constituencies Council (CCC) appears to signal a lowering of tensions between employees and management, which for many years had plagued the CCC.
The agreement, at the same time, showed the shift in management style Mayor Peterson Francis introduced once he was sworn in the position two years ago.
When Mayor Francis first assumed the position, the CCC’s profile within the communities it serves was low, while tensions between workers and management were high — and always seemed on the brink of exploding.
The Castries City Constabulary was almost non-existent, functioning primarily to monitor the CCC’s Derek Walcott Square carpark and collected the daily fee from market and street vendors in and around the City of Castries.
The city, on a whole, was an eyesore.
The ordinances pertaining to the city were ignored by persons who live and travel within its boundaries.
Enforcement of those ordinances was at an all-time low. As for staff morale, well, let’s just say major issues existed between staff and management at the time.
Since taking over the city’s management in August 2016, Francis has shaken up the status quo, refusing to manage the city by the old books.
His methods, sometimes criticized by persons from within his own government, has produced wonders in transforming for the better several major areas and in the process racking up an unprecedented amount of rave reviews.
Francis, at the signing ceremony of the three-year agreement last Friday, made it clear he was a hands-on person, someone who always double-checks to see that directions are followed properly, tasks given are promptly taken care of, employees are happy and understand their duties clearly, to prevent problems that can be avoided.
“I’m always accused of micro managing,” Francis told The Voice, admitting at the same time that that may very well be the case, but quickly adding that “Sometimes, people don’t see the value of it.”
The three-year agreement is far-reaching in its scope, to the point where even Labour Commissioner Ray Narcisse sang its praises at the signing ceremony.
Francis said that the latitude the agreement seems to have given to workers is because of his belief that an employee who is looked after well, will perform to his/her best.
He even likened the situation to himself by stating that at one time he was in the position of the employee, therefore what he does not like for himself he will not allow it to happen to persons whom he has a responsibility to.
The Collective Agreement ends 2020 and covers daily paid workers of the Castries Constituencies Council.
