By Joseph Lamin Kamara
Workers at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi have planned to challenge some administrative decisions and protest the possible re-employment of thegeneral manager who was retired on 13 October this year.
John Sesay told Politico that he was actually retired but had been “reinstated by my employers on contract basis,” adding that his retirement was not an issue because police in the northwest division had settled the matter by replying to the grieving workers.
When asked to comment on the terms and conditions of his new contract, Sesay said: “that is personal to me and it is between me and my employers, and I cannot tell you.”
Meanwhile, one of the leaders planning the industrial action said that they had written letters to the police and other stakeholders explaining their concerns and plans to stage a demonstration if the general manager continued to maintain his post.
The source, who asked for anonymity for fear of reprisal, insisted that the GM had been retired but had retained his office because the board chairman, Hassan Conteh, extended his term for three months. He said their contracts, terms of conditions and services did not provide for an extension of a staff member’s term once they reached the official retirement age of 60 years.
“Over 90% of the employees were against the reinstatement of our former boss and we are all waiting only for the police to get back to us”, the source said.
Meanwhile, the police Local Unit Commanderof the Lungi Airport division, Maxwell Sesay,confirmed the aggrieved employees had sent a letter to them on 19 October, requesting clearance for demonstration but we replied on Friday 24 stating that could not be granted them
“We cannot grant them permission because of the current state of emergency”,the police boss said, adding that: “if they go ahead to demonstrate, it is to their detriment.”
Although the affected workers said they were determined to press on with their planned protest if after Wednesday 29 they did not get a word from the police, a joint team of officials from the police, military and Office of National Security had asked for restraint while they conferred with the office of the president.
Meanwhile, Politico tried contacting the chairman of the board of directors but he didn’t pick repeated calls as at press time.
© Politico 30/10/14
