NEWSDAY JANUARY 20, 2 K 14 CWU: TSTT planning retrenchment By JANELLE DE SOUZA Monday, January 20 2014 THE Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) is claiming the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT) is planning to retrench workers without consulting the union. The claim was made during a lunchtime protest in front TSTT offices on Edward Street, Port-of-Spain, last week — the fourth protest for the year. CWU president Joseph Remy told Newsday the union is trying to advise as much employees as possible to be aware of deception. This said Remy is in addition to attempts to mislead workers into accepting a reduced formula of calculating Cost of Living Allowances (COLA). Remy claimed a company official sent out an update to employees about TSTT’s intention to retrench employees as part of the company’s Five-Year Strategic Plan. “CWU is making it clear that any attempt to deal with staffing levels at TSTT must be done in collaboration with and with the agreement of the recognised majority union, the CWU,” he said. According to Remy, the union had a meeting with Jerry Hospedales, an adviser to Minister of Finance Larry Howai. “He (Hospedales) indicated to the union that TSTT submitted a Five-Year Strategic Plan to the ministry and that the company has the intention of retrenching staff. He was surprised that the union had no idea about this,” Remy said. Remy added that when the TSTT official found out that the union got wind of this, the official sent another update to employees accusing the union of spreading rumours. The update, stated that there was no plan for retrenchment but if employees wished, they could accept Voluntary Separation Employment Programme (VSEP) or Enhanced Early Retirement (EER) plans. Remy said the company could not offer packages without the union’s input and believes it is a diversion from the ongoing issues including COLA, Occupational Safety and Health and medical plans. “Negotiations must continue and be resolved. However, they need to rationalise the amount of consultants, contractors, contract employees and agency employees before they give consideration to have any discussion about permanent staff,” stated Remy. However, a TSTT employee told Newsday that the union was making these statements to provoke anxiety as there is no plan for mandatory retrenchment. He said the company has a five- year strategic plan which involves a number of projects to strengthen the company and deliver better services. The plan, he said, involves retraining and repositioning of employees. “Therefore there is latitude for employees who may be inclined to accept VSEP or EER,” he said. spacer
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 10:56:56 +0000
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