Rubis pushes back against claims of forced resignation by former driver

Rubis Energy Jamaica has rejected claims that former driver Aduke Walker was forced to resign over allegations of fuel theft from company trucks, insisting that he and other employees voluntarily resigned after being presented with the findings of an internal investigation.

“RUBiS Energy Jamaica wishes to make clear that the employees were not asked, instructed, encouraged, threatened, coerced or forced to resign. They were expressly informed that any decision to resign was theirs to make,” the company said in a statement today.

The statement follows the publication of a Gleaner article today in which Walker alleged that he was pressured into signing a resignation letter on June 16 after being questioned about a visit to a garage where he had gone to source a truck part.

Read:Driver fights to be reinstated after gas theft accusation, resignation

Rubis said its investigation followed an anonymous report concerning activities involving certain road tanker wagon (RTW) drivers.

The company said a preliminary review of vehicle-tracking records and onboard computer data identified anomalies, prompting a formal investigation that included additional monitoring and surveillance.

According to Rubis, the investigation uncovered several instances over a period of months in which drivers deviated from assigned delivery routes and made stops that did not appear to be operational requirements or approved business activities.

The company said the findings were supported by vehicle-tracking data, onboard computer records, surveillance footage and other relevant information.

Rubis said the findings raised serious concerns about compliance with its procedures and employees’ responsibilities, with some matters potentially having implications beyond its internal employment processes.

“The employees concerned were presented with the relevant findings and given an opportunity to respond,” the company said.

“Following this process, the employees elected to resign from the company, and their resignations were accepted as voluntary.”

Walker, who joined Rubis in 2023, alleged that he was summoned back to work while heading home and questioned by three senior company executives about his visit to the garage and other drivers who had allegedly gone there and stolen fuel.

“They were, basically, accusing me of stealing gas because they were accusing the other drivers of going there and stealing, but I told them I do not know anything about that,” Walker said.

He alleged that he was threatened with police involvement if he did not resign and claimed that a resignation letter had already been prepared for him.

Walker, however, maintains that he was not involved in the alleged theft, did not voluntarily resign and wants the resignation withdrawn so he can return to work.

The matter has been taken up by Vincent Morrison, president of the Union of Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE), who is seeking Walker’s reinstatement.

Morrison said the union requested evidence of any breach committed by Walker but has not received evidence that, in its view, would justify his termination.

He said several meetings, including one at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, have been held, but the dispute remains unresolved. The union has since written another letter requesting a meeting and is awaiting a response.

Rubis, meanwhile, said it acknowledges that employment matters can give rise to differing accounts and that the matter is being addressed through the appropriate labour-relations channels.

The company said it respects those processes and will continue to participate in them in good faith, but will make no further comment while the matter is ongoing.

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