Maxfield workers protest against sacking of superintendent
WORKERS of the Maxfield Park Children’s Home in Kingston yesterday protested outside the gates of the home, against the dismissal of superintendent Roxylin Morrison-Spence who served in the position for more than five years.
The placard-bearing workers vowed to continue their protest until Morrison-Spence was reinstated. The matter has, in the meantime, been referred to the Ministry of Labour.
“We will be going back out (to protest) tomorrow and every morning until Mrs Spence is back at work,” said a worker who asked not to be named.
“The children are still taken care of but some duties have been curtailed,” the staff member added. It was not clear, however, what were the services affected.
Morrison-Spence was last Friday dismissed with immediate effect by chairman Ruby Martin. However, the workers said the reasons for her dismissal were not disclosed.
“It’s an internal matter and it’s being discussed at the highest level. Publicity is not what the institution needs,” Martin told the Observer yesterday.
According to sources, Morrison-Spence had refused to accept the dismissal letter from the chairman and was subsequently told to clear out her drawers, leave the premises and not return on Monday.
This led to yesterday’s demonstration by the approximately 90 members of staff, most of whom are represented by the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU).
Sources said in a hastily called staff meeting Monday afternoon, Martin sought the understanding of workers who had threatened to strike.
“We are not satisfied. We were not given any reason,” a worker who requested anonymity told the Observer after the Monday meeting.
Yesterday, Morrison-Spence declined to comment on the matter. “I prefer not to say anything at this stage. I did not even open the letter that was given. I did not accept it,” she said.
Morrison-Spence said, however, that she was told verbally by Martin on Friday, in the presence of other staff members, to pack her things and leave and not to return to work on Monday.
“It is unfair as it does not follow the rules of a termination,” said Morrison-Spence, who has been superintendent of the home since 2001.
