SOCIAL workers at the Department of Social Services in Grand Bahama called in sick yesterday, joining their other colleagues in a sick-out that affected many parts of the country.

Garth Russell, shop steward at Bahamas Public Service Union in Freeport, told The Tribune that over 70 social workers called in sick and did not report to work in Grand Bahama.

“I am still trying to get the numbers, and it may be over 70 persons in Freeport and all the way into Eight Mile Rock,” he said.

Mr Russell, a family service officer, said social workers are tired and frustrated of being overlooked by the government.

“We are underpaid and overworked,” he said. “Our administrators and government are not taking us seriously. We feel disrespected, marginalised, powerless, useless, and sick, and that is why we are (out sick) today collectively.”

Mr Russell said that social workers are particularly concerned about the implementation of the 2016 career path that negatively affects social workers.

“We came out of a meeting last week with administrators who are trying to implement a career path. It is an old scale. We are living in 2021, not 2016 and it is not relevant to meeting our family and educational needs— that to us is a slap in the face,” he said.

He claimed that social workers have yet to see this career path document and their requests for a copy of it have been ignored for almost two years.

Mr Russell said the position of trainee welfare officer is supposed to be held for one year, but there are persons who are still holding the same title after eight years.

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