By Melissa Ridgen
APTN National News
WINNIPEG–The Manitoba Teacher’s Society is warning teachers about working at the Sandy Bay First Nation, and that has the community’s new chief crying foul.
MTS posted an advisory on its website urging members to call them for advice before applying for empty positions at Sandy Bay, located almost 200 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. The society president said MTS took the highly unusual step because teachers are being denied health benefits and pensions they’ve already paid for through payroll deductions taken by the band.
“What’s happening in Sandy Bay is some mixture of the deductions never being made by the employer – and it is their responsibility – or even worse, they’re made or were made but never sent on to the appropriate organizations,” said MTS president Paul Olson. As a result, the 57 teachers currently employed by Sandy Bay aren’t getting health benefits or life insurance. One retired teacher isn’t getting a pension. In addition, Olson says union dues were deducted but not forwarded to the teachers’ union, MTS.
“The position we’re taking is that (teachers) paid these dues, (that money) never showed up here but they’re nonetheless entitled to service from us,” he said from MTS’ Winnipeg office.
Chief Russell Beaulieu admits teachers are just one of many groups owed money by the band.
“When I took over as chief in October (2012) this is part of the financial situation I inherited,” he said. “We met with teachers and agreed on a payment plan and are in the process of remedying the situation which should be cleared up by the end of July. I don’t know why (MTS) is bringing this up now.”
Beaulieu estimates almost $1-million in health and pension benefits taken from teachers wasn’t remitted to the pension or benefits providers. He said he’s not aware of where it went or what exactly happened.
“This is one of many fires I have to put out,” said the chief. “When I took over there were creditors lined up at the door. This is the second time I’ve inherited a mess as chief.
But Olson said this isn’t just an old problem.
“What I can tell you is this is not a one-time problem. It’s been going on almost the entire year and has happened in other years before,” said the teachers’ union president.
“It’s very frustrating for teachers.”
Beaulieu said the band, at its own request, is now being co-managed to get a grip on its financial mess. RCMP are not currently investigating this matter.
The chief said he’s “very disappointed” MTS has red-flagged Sandy Bay.
“It’s a black mark on our community. Nobody is going to want to apply here when they hear that,” he said, adding students will ultimately suffer.
Both sides, with their lawyers, are scheduled to meet Friday in hopes of resolving this situation.
@mridgenwpg
– With a file from Matt Thordarson
Another case of Band thievery.