Cameras in a govt office....

[*$kїđž!™]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/50- ... 26061.html

50 Trade Ministry workers walk off job: protesting security cameras
By Carla Bridglal
Story Created: Dec 10, 2013 at 9:43 PM ECT
Story Updated: Dec 10, 2013 at 10:59 PM ECT
Approximately 50 employees walked off the job yesterday at the Ministry of Trade’s offices at Nicholas Tower, Port of Spain to protest the installation of security cameras, claiming they are an invasion of their privacy.
“The Ministry has violated all rules of decency...it is a change in the employees’ conditions of service and to do that they must inform the union, which they did not,” said Public Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke.
The PSA is the union representing the majority of workers at the Ministry.
Last Thursday, the Ministry installed security cameras in the Accounts and Human Resources departments, to the chagrin of the workers.
Duke said the PSA brought the workers’ concerns to the Ministry on Friday, but when the issue persisted on Monday, they staged a walkout.
Yesterday, the union attempted to have a meeting with the Ministry’s permanent secretary Sandra Indar, but were refused.
As such, Duke said, workers had no choice but to walk off the job.
“This is a gross violation of their constitutional right to privacy. The Data Protection Act says they can’t get personal data from people without consent. What are they going to use this information for? They want to monitor the workers, see who is liming. They are using the cameras as a form of appraisal to set up workers. Once workers accept the cameras, they have to accept the results (of the footage),” Duke said.
The Ministry, in a release yesterday, said the installation is part of a comprehensive exercise for the personal safety of staff and property of the Ministry, and was planned several months ago.
“This is as a result of a series of security incidents, leading to material losses to both staff and the Ministry (including expensive office equipment) and threats to staff,” the release stated.
“This created a general atmosphere of insecurity in the Ministry.
“The intention of this security equipment is to be used for preventative and investigative purposes and not as part of any programme to continuously monitor the movements or performance of staff,” the Ministry’s release continued.
Nevertheless, Duke has issued his own bulletin to PSA members, saying workers have the right to refuse to work if they believe their personal information is being captured and feel their safety, security and welfare are in serious and imminent danger.

[pluggie]

lol they worried that someone see that they are useless bastards that does foxall whole day !!! lol

[cherrypopper]

If they don't like it they should quit and move on to greener pastures. .I'm sure the vacancies won't be hard to fill.

[*$kїđž!™]

Currently I am trying to get thru with some paperwork at a govt office.....It suppose to take 4 weeks.....going into the 6th week and its now only half way complete.....Fed up call for the clerk...he always out of office or just stepped out......

Barge in one day and see the man liming in a corner with ah gyul.....wtf........and my paper work sitting on his desk unattended.......

[skylinechild]

*awaits pios comments

[~Vēġó~]

gov't office = no privacy....

[Xplode]

*awaits pios comments

look what sufferers thread do ....heard that every gov't office will have cameras installed.

[shogun]

Hell... they need to put cameras in all line-ministers' offices as well.

[javishm]

this needs to be done

[shogun]

.he always out of office or just stepped out.......

Like iz the same guy we dealing with?.

[K74T]

About time

[Gem_in_i]

I went to a couple govt offices before and they had cameras. And those people didn't walk out. Did Duke incite this walkout?

I know at another office they got cameras and key cards etc becos of some issue about someone going into the office and roughing up a boss. At some offices they getting thumb readers to clock in, the old attendance register not working.

[Dizzy28]

Who have nothing to hide have nothing to fraid!!

[RIPEBREDFRUIT]

sad, trying to computerize liscencing divison is beign met with several obstacles, why? because they know that once that's in place ALL of this bribery and unhanded transactions are done, and we cant have a proper functioning govt place can we.
About time ALL govt offices be outfitted with cameras, and when people are not doing their job, FIRE their rassess immediately, for every one worthless lazy govt worker theres are at least 20 more waiting to fill their job and work harder at it.

[RIPEBREDFRUIT]

Most businesses in the private sector have cameras ..yuh doh hear the staff complaining that "their personal information is being captured and feel their safety, security and welfare are in serious and imminent danger.."

dem monkey know wah tree to climb I guess...

how funny you should say monkey

[AllTrac]

as long as there are follow up procedures to this, for example a separate 3rd party reviews tape, people are disciplined when their violations are caught on tape, the bill passed where we can use video evidence in court and everything is done in a timely manner then and only then once implemented the PP has secured my vote for the next elections by just this one move. This is so badly needed.

[PapaC]

I can't understand how "security" camera can create an atmosphere of "insecurity" in an ofice...

Probably its "job insecurity" that is the concern.

[RIPEBREDFRUIT]

hahaha @ insecurity, it all boils down to their not wanting people to see exactly how much time is spent NOT doing work, liming on the phone, being on their cell phone and theuir basic Lazy a55 attitude in the work place.

[zoom rader]

^^^ You want to distory what PNM took years to build

[ras_elmo]

I eh sure if they understand how silly they sounding....

What personal data is being collected via the cameras...their location while in the office? Hours spent in work? Guests/visitors to their workplace? All of this is governed by their collective agreement....and attendance logs.

Its not like they're walking around with their credit card and banking details on their foreheads....

They just vex that they will be recorded skinnin dey baxside for 90% of the 6hrs they are actually at their workplace....

[wagonrunner]

steups. cams were installed in the last office since 2k9.
nothing changed. we were about getting work done. even with a lunchtime nap due to the 4.30a start, and the after 9p end.

[*$kїđž!™]

II know at another office they got cameras and key cards etc becos of some issue about someone going into the office and roughing up a boss. At some offices they getting thumb readers to clock in, the old attendance register not working.

Govt offices have this?.....kinda hard to believe...

[Sky]

“This is a gross violation of their constitutional right to privacy. The Data Protection Act says they can’t get personal data from people without consent. What are they going to use this information for? They want to monitor the workers, see who is liming. They are using the cameras as a form of appraisal to set up workers. Once workers accept the cameras, they have to accept the results (of the footage),” Duke said.

The hours spent at the office does not belong to them, but the gov't, just like any other employer.
That's not their bedrooms, not even private homes. They're at a public office. What private information?
He is full of sheit and they should all be fired for listening to him and walking off.

[pugboy]

cameras can also check punctuality
when biometric time clock systems came there was a lot of resistance
in preference to paper card method

[Chimera]

had the same issue when I installed a camera system in a regional corporation

staff vex because they think the ceo wanna "watch them"

productivity jumped after the install though

then a few months later someone in their IT department turn the system off and half the cameras as well as NVR disappear.

[pioneer]

All govt ministries/departments should have cameras.

Being in the sysem, I'm sickened by the things employees steal and how they conduct themselves in the office.

[cinco]

All govt ministries/departments should have cameras.

Being in the sysem, I'm sickened by the things employees steal and how they conduct themselves in the office.

strong this

plus i want a camera in pios office lunch room to see dey conduct when he coassin on dem

[pioneer]

Dem go find ah way to tief de cameras by me

[cinco]

dai to take pityear to puh on facebook

[Gem_in_i]

Saw this.