The views expressed herein are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of One News SVG. The writer would prefer to remain anonymous.
Though VINLEC has always been a hot topic, it has been under even greater scrutiny recently due to the rising fuel surcharge. With the increase in electricity costs, customers are understandably becoming more frustrated, angry, and, at times, aggressive. While I do not disagree with people for being angry, I do not agree with where that anger is being directed.
We know the reality of the economy. For many years, working-class Vincentians have struggled to afford basic necessities, much less find the money to pay increasingly higher electricity bills. However, while you have every right to be angry about the rising cost of electricity, please remember that the VINLEC employees you encounter—whether in the field, in the office, or out in the public doing their jobs—are not the ones who set the policies or make the decisions. We simply carry out the directives of top management and work according to the rules and procedures established by the company.
I have noticed that fieldwork has become increasingly threatening for employees. The level of hostility we encounter is concerning, but your anger cannot and should not be directed at us.
The VINLEC employees you see every day are going through a lot themselves. We, the frontline workers, have very little influence within the company, yet we are the ones who face the abuse from both within and outside the organisation.
We work hard. We go above and beyond. We do our best to serve the public, often under difficult circumstances. Yet, at the end of the day, many of us feel unrecognised, undervalued, and unfairly treated. At this point, I would not recommend my worst enemy seek employment there.
For years, lower-level workers have been poorly compensated. You can enter the company in an entry-level position and, 20 or more years later, retire from that same position with a salary that has increased only marginally over the years—an income that can barely provide for you and your family.
Meanwhile, it often appears that management’s primary concern is collecting their substantial salaries and driving around in expensive company-provided vehicles, while little is being done to improve the welfare and well-being of the employees who keep the company operating.
Our CEO recently stated, quite proudly, that VINLEC employees do not benefit from reduced electricity rates. Imagine hearing your CEO boast about something like that when employees are struggling to pay the very same high utility bills on the small salaries they receive. One would think that a company like VINLEC would pay its workers well and treat them fairly. Well, think again.
Employee turnover is extremely high, yet very little appears to be done to encourage the employees who remain to stay. Instead, what we continue to receive is more pressure, more demands, and what many workers consider to be unfair practices.
I am quite confident that many of those who remain are simply employees who have not yet found alternative employment. The reality is that employees are unhappy, and many do not want to stay. Once the older employees who have dedicated almost their entire working lives to VINLEC begin to retire, the company risks becoming a place where employees simply pass through until they find something better.
With a new administration in power, one would have thought that the Minister of Energy or the Board of Directors would have formally met with staff, introduced themselves, and given employees an opportunity to voice their concerns and grievances. Yet, we are still waiting. In fact, many of us do not even know who the new Board of Directors are.
Imagine working for a company that has not held a general staff meeting in over 12 years. What does that say about the level of respect and communication between top management and the employees? The majority of people in this country voted for change, including many VINLEC employees. Yet here we are, still waiting to see that change.
So, my appeal to the public is this:
While you are angry about the rising cost of electricity, please remember the VINLEC employees who are on the frontline— answering your calls, visiting your homes, working in the field, handling your complaints and trying their best to keep the system functioning. We understand your frustration. We understand that many of you are struggling. We are Vincentians too, and we are facing many of the same economic challenges you are facing. But please remember that we are not the ones who formulate the policies, set the fuel surcharge, determine electricity rates, or make the major decisions affecting the company and its customers. Please be kind.
Many of us are struggling financially as well—some perhaps even more than those who are the loudest about their electricity bills. We come to work every day carrying our own burdens, yet we continue to serve the public and do our jobs to the best of our ability.
So please, do not make frontline employees the target of your frustration. We are employees, not policymakers. We are workers, not decision-makers. We are simply trying to make a living, provide for our families, and hold things together while doing our best to serve the very public that we are also a part of.
Behind every VINLEC uniform is a human being who is also struggling, worrying, and trying to survive. At times, it feels like the only thing keeping some of us going is the mercy of God. The emotional and mental toll of working in an environment where employees feel undervalued, unheard, and unsupported should not be underestimated.
It is not!! The cries of VINLEC employees are real.
Please hear us too.
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