Cashiers: ‘No ceiling, no work’
FLORIDA - License applicants frustrated as they are not issued with their documents
For the past week and half, cashiers at Florida Licensing Department reported for work just to sit down,do nothing and be paid for that.
According to the acting manager at the department, Andre Guldenheys on Wednesday 8 January the ceiling in the cashier’s service room fell down. Since that day, cashiers are refusing to work from that room, citing that it’s a health hazard for them to work from that room. “They say there is dust and wont work from that room until the ceiling is fixed.”
It is reported that health inspectors visited the department on Friday 17 January and proclaimed the room safe to work in. The deputy director of the department also visited the offices on the same day and instructed the cashiers to return to work, amid that, they still refused.
During the Northsider’s visit to the licensing department on Friday afternoon, one cashier was heard boasting of how he knows his rights and wont be bullied to doing what he doesn’t want to do because he is ‘educated’. Applicants were also seen turned away and told to return on Monday.
With the cashiers not working, most services at the licensing department were affected. New bookings for learner’s licenses or driver’s license could not be made. Those who had already booked and came for their tests and passed could not be issued with their licenses.
Applicants were left frustrated more especially because there was no proper communication from the department. One such applicant is Adam Mawdsley who wrote and passed his learners license on Friday 10 January but was not issued with his learners licence. “I was not given any proof that I passed the test, delaying me with starting my driving lessons.”
The reason he was given was that the system was off line but it turns out that was not the case. Mawdsley was instructed to to return the following Monday and when he returned he received cold treatment from one senior staff member. “The man took me to a room and showed me the roof and told me that was his problem and the issuing of my license was not his problem.”
Geldenheys promised that the ceiling will be fixed over the weekend and normal services will resume on Monday 20 January.
