OGBL criticizes « Attack at Personaldelegation » at Caritas Jeunes & Familles
The conflict between staff representatives and the management of Caritas Jeunes & Familles continues to escalate. Such an attack on a delegation has never existed, said Smail Suljic, Central Secretary for Health and Social Affairs at the OGBL, at a specially called press conference on Wednesday.
According to the unionist, the dispute began at a meeting between the Caritas directorate, trade union representatives and the personnel league in October 2024. It was agreed that an employee is released from her normal work for her work as a staff representative, says Suljic. As a result, the delegate handed over the door key to her job and was no longer taken into account in the work plan.
According to the union, the employee received a letter from her employer two weeks later, in which a « Mise à Pied » was pronounced against her.
This is a provisional measure that an employer can take against employees for the time, during which it is checked whether there is a « faded grave » that would justify a termination. The salary is initially paid.
Not on the agenda
The measure was justified by the fact that the delegate no longer appeared to work. The directorate denies that the meeting said that it was released that it will be released.
« Contrary to the claims of the OGBL, there was no ‘discussion’ on the vice -president’s delegation during the meeting of October 22, 2024 between the personal elegation and the management, so that she can fully devote herself to the delegation. This point was not on the agenda, » wrote general director of Caritas Jeunes & Familles, Carina Gonçalves, in an internal communication. In fact, it is exclusively a matter for the internal organization of the staff representative and does not affect the management.
« And that is the basis of an employment contract: You cannot decide what you do and what you don’t do overnight, » she told Radio 100.7. « I don’t understand why in the case you don’t just pick up the phone and ask why the person doesn’t come to work, » Suljic is surprised at the press conference.
Measures against three other delegates
When the employee wanted to act against the decision, three other delegation members who were present at the meeting in October would have agreed to confirm the delegates’ statements in court, said Suljic. Against all three, Caritas also expressed a “mise à pied”.
The reason was that the employees had not behaved loyal to the employer. « A personnel controller is primarily an employee of a company or an organization. And if he gives false information in the context of a court procedure, then I would say that the basis of trust is no longer met. And the basis of trust is one of the most important elements of an employment contract, » said Gonçalves on the radio.
« The representation is blocked »
Suljic emphasizes that the union has always been looking for the dialogue on the matter and sees the measures a conscious attempt to weaken the staff representative. « The delegates do not dare to do their work. The representation is blocked and that was also the goal of the campaign, » says the union.
OGBL calls for more staff for schools with students in need of support
He points out that there have been problems between staff representation and the management for a long time. The union therefore asked for a conversation with the communities and ministries that have a convention with Caritas.
In addition, one wants to support the delegates to take action against the measures of their employer. However, Suljic emphasizes that all affected employees are ready to resume their work.
