The sacked Palms employees have taken legal action against Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Phulander Kandhi.

According to a notice of motion recently filed in the High Court, the dismissed workers are seeking declarations that: “(their) removal from the Public Service of the State of Guyana is ultra vires, unconstitutional and wrong in law; procedurally the mandatory provisions of the rules relating to interdiction and payment must be applied before (their) removal; (they) must have been compulsorily retired before the normal retiring age and must be paid and must be compensated accordingly; an Order reinstating (them) to their (respective) office(s) and costs.

Administrator of the government-owned Old Age home, Justina McKinnon, and five other staff members, were fired last month after an ongoing dispute regarding working conditions and the non-payment of uniform allowances between the institution’s staff and ministry officials.

The other sacked staff members are Bridget O’Dell, Gemme Hinds, Feubia Brewster, Dianne Jones and Christine Barlow.

In response to the workers’ dismissal, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), which represents the Palms staff, had immediately organised a sit-in of all staff members. However, speaking with Stabroek News earlier this week, GPSU Research Officer Chandrawattie Persaud said the staff have since resumed normal duties and the union was reviewing the entire situation with a view to reaching an amicable agreement with the ministry.

The reason given for the dismissals, by the Government Information Agency (GINA) at the time, was the respective workers’ involvement in a protest on July 4 which prevented Labour Minister Dr. Dale Bisnauth, PS Kandhi and other ministry officials from installing an interim management committee.

Meanwhile, repair works at the institution are still in progress and according to GINA, are expected to be completed by next month. GINA also refuted reports carried in certain sections of the media which suggested the contractor “had walked off the job.”

The matter is set to come up in Bail Court on November 3.