SHMI employees wrote an open letter to the management of the Institute, the Ministry and the Government
Warn of the crisis.
BRATISLAVA. Employees of the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMI) warn against a crisis that threatens its professional integrity, operationality and international reputation. They therefore addressed an open letter to the SHMI management, the Ministry of the Environment, the Office of the Government and the Public.
On behalf of the employees, the climatologist SHMI informed Jozef Pecho.
The authorized director of the Institute of Institute Ivana Herkel is to meet this week with the management of the Ministry of the Environment, then with representatives of the trade union organizations of the SHMI and also with representatives of the Committee of the Committee.
Professional destruction and forced redundancies
Experts draw attention to forced redundancies, cutting of the budget, personnel decomposition, expert destruction and loss of confidence in the management of the institute.
« The atmosphere in the workplaces controls lack of transparency, lack of communication, distrust and intimidation by the management, » they said.
Employees also claim that they cancel their personal surcharges, pay remuneration, restrict working benefits, cooperation on international projects, foreign business trips and work from home. At the same time, the management also canceled the traditional form of Open Day.
« The result is the departure of meteorologists, climatologists, hydrologists and air quality experts, under which it is extremely difficult to find compensation under Slovak conditions. Moreover, many SHMI workplaces have long been personally undersized, yet other waves of redundancies are still scheduled. »
At the same time, they recall that SHMI is an integral part of the critical infrastructure of the state. According to experts, the consequences of the possible collapse of the SHMI will feel the whole of Slovakia.
To define the system and subsequent consequences
In the case of SHMI paralysis, it will not be possible to properly ensure timely warning against extreme weather phenomena, floods and smog, support for crisis management, police, firefighters, civil protection and mountain rescue service, meteorological services for aviation and defense, hydrological information for operation of waterworks, radiation monitoring and support for nuclear responses. Monitoring of drought, air quality and adaptation to climate change, scientific research and the development of new products were approached by employees.
“Without a functional SHMI, Slovakia will lose credibility, will be in a legislative conflict with the European Union and will lose their ability to protect the lives, health and property of its citizens.
Destroying SHMI means to prevent the system of early warning, protection against climatic threats and basic services that stand the security and functioning of the country, ”said experts in the letter.
They therefore call on the management and the MoE as the founder to immediately stop the personnel, operational and professional destruction of the Institute.
The internal petition, supported by more than 150 SHMI employees, has turned to the authorized Director General Ivana Herkel, requesting a meeting to discuss the current situation. SHMI spokesman Ivan Garčár confirmed that Herkel is to meet the leadership of the Ministry of the Environment on Thursday (10 April) and will talk about the current situation and its solution. Then he is supposed to meet representatives of the SHMI trade unions and then, according to Garčár, wants to talk to representatives of the Petitions Committee.
Calls to lead and ministry
- Stopping the deepening of the personnel, operational and expert destruction of the SHMI.
- Ensuring the financing of the incorrectly set budget of the SHMI, which currently does not allow the full operation of the institution or maintaining basic professional capacities.
- Responding to the requirements of the SHMI professional staff who warn them of the collapse of the whole institution.
- Ensuring continuity, expertise and dignified working conditions that are necessary for the functioning of the institution.
- Ensuring that SHMI management acts transparently, professionally and respect for its employees, in accordance with the SHMI’s own Ethics Code, which obliges management: create a working atmosphere promoting open communication without fear of retaliation (part III), behave considerately and responsibly to your co -workers (part II). (Part VI.1), do not tolerate any forms of intimidation, discrimination or disruption of dignity of employees (part VI.2 and VI.6), and ensure true and timely awareness of employees (part VI.3).
Taraba ordered an in -depth audit
Minister of the Environment Tomáš Tarababa (CIS nominee) ordered in -depth personnel and financial audit in the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMI). He said this after the government meeting.
« We have information that there are almost 1500 agreements on an institution that I think, less than 500 employees. We have a serious suspicion of how this institution was managed, » Taraba said, adding that such a number of agreements are unacceptable at the time of consolidation. He added that it was inadmissible not to do an in -depth control of how SHMI was managed by one director for many years.
« I am interested in it to be a top institution. However, history is that they lose one order after another. It is a big way to improve everything in front of us, I’m ready for it, » Taraba said. According to him, SHMI has the possibility of great development.
