Former GSD Employment Minister Luis Montiel’s dispute with the Gibraltar Government has taken a new twist after he was yesterday offered a position as Grade 1 receptionist in the Employment Service.

Mr Montiel told the Chronicle that the move “is a shocking tactic in breach of my rights and clearly designed to humiliate me.”

 

A former District Officer of the TGWU, Mr Montiel has accused the current administration of “political vindictiveness and prejudice.”

He further stated that in a small community like Gibraltar instances of “abuse of power” should not be tolerated wherever they come from.

In a statement Mr Montiel declared: “As a Public Officer elected to Parliament, (having decided not to stand for re-election), in compliance with established regulations and in consultation with Senior Civil Servants as early as October 2011, I sought and reached agreement to be reinstated into Public Service as from the 12th December 2012.

“Unsurprisingly, after the elections, with GSLP in power, there was no response to correspondence or meaningful engagement by Government regarding my legitimate reinstatement into Public Service. This, inevitably, resulted in legal action and public exposure of my case.

“On March 1st 2012, Government made an offer of re-engagement into Public Service but, regrettably, on unacceptable conditional terms.

“Against a background of political vindictiveness, a number of these conditions (on a matter of principle) are not only unacceptable to me, but should also not be acceptable to any Public Servant who thinks today, that his/her employee rights are protected from political prejudice.

“In a close and small community such as ours, abuse of power should not be tolerated wherever it comes from. Consequently, some months ago, I instructed my lawyer to file for a Judicial Review in an endeavour to establish dignity and justice.

“On July 12th 2012, through my lawyer, I received a letter from the Government appointed lawyer offering me reinstatement on unconditional terms. That, I presumed, signalled good faith as I could still pursue my pending legal employment rights.

“However, when I reported for work on Monday July 16th I was informed that for the time being I would have to work as a grade 1 receptionist (although I am a grade 4) at the Employment Service- a job currently undertaken by a ‘Future Job Strategy’ employee. A shocking tactic in breach of my rights and clearly designed to humiliate me.”

Mr Montiel added that there is nothing demeaning about the post of receptionist but that he is defending his legitimate employment rights.