The Police Department's Motor Vehicle Bureau in Subbase was closed Monday and continued to be closed Tuesday when workers called in sick.
Police Commissioner Franz Christian, while not having determined all the elements of what appears to be a job action, said he regretted the public inconvenience.
"All I can ask the public to do is bear with us as we try to determine the problem and address it," he said.
Luis "Tito" Morales, president of the Central Labor Council, said the Steelworkers Union was not involved with any plans Monday for a job action, but he is most sympathetic and supportive of the workers' issues.
"The staff has been reduced from 20 to eight on St. Thomas, St. John has only one inspector and St. Croix is woefully understaffed," Morales said, adding that working conditions at the territory's inspection lanes are "not the best."
Morales also said that some demands will be made on the government to adequately staff the Motor Vehicle Bureau offices and to improve physical conditions on St. John.
"I don't intend this place to run without adequate staff. If the government insists on it, I will bring charges against the Turnbull administration," he threatened.
Christian's comments on the issue indicated that the administration is aware of the chief complaint of the MVB staffers, and has already prepared to fill vacancies. "We still are not told of their concerns but if it is the staffing problems, they are being addressed," Christian said. "NOPAs have been processed and are en route to Government House for the governor's signature."
A major point was made Monday of the bureau's revenue-generating role. Morales said it makes little sense not to provide needed resources to an agency that delivers millions of dollars a year to the treasury.
"This office alone is responsible for $9 million a year," he said. "Its cost to operate is under $200,000. It is indeed sad that revenue-generating offices of the government are not staffed properly."
Christian acknowledged the importance to the government of the money collected daily by the MVB, which is why he is anxious to see the situation resolved quickly.
So far, only the St. Thomas MVB has been affected by the job action.
