CBH staff return to work

Vector Control Unit staff went back to work at the Central Board of Health yesterday following a meeting with Health Minister Molwyn Joseph and other ministry officials regarding a supervisor who was demoted.
The meeting was held after 43 employees walked off the job on Tuesday to the office of their bargaining agent, the Antigua Trades & Labour Union, to protest the move against Andrea Henry, the co-worker who headed the unit.
When the matter was brought to the attention of Minister Joseph, he promised to have it resolved.
“The minister, the acting permanent secretary, the permanent assistant secretary, two union officials, the shop steward, Henry, and the deputy chief health inspector met at the minister’s office [yesterday] for less than an hour. A meeting is to follow in two weeks time to discuss Henry and other concerns,” a source said.
Prior to that situation, another group of workers had been protesting against Henry.
She was later advised, by way of a letter, that effective immediately, she would be reverted to her old position of Environmental Health Aide 1, assigned to a district.
Henry was also informed that the Ministry of Health did not support the recommendation for her promotion and upgrade. The acting deputy chief health inspector Daryl Spencer signed the June 25 letter.
Henry, who has worked at CBH for more than 33 years, has been acting in the position of supervisor of the Vector Control Unit for more than a year. She was among seven people who were recommended for promotion by former Chief Health Inspector Lionel Michael.