TCL,
OWTU still talking
By
Radhica Sookraj
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
12 09 07
The Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) said yesterday
it was still involved in negotiations with Trinidad
Cement Ltd (TCL) for a new industrial agreement.
The
union’s second vice president Ancil
Roget denied that the negotiations were concluded
and an agreement had been reached.
His comments came as TCL reopened negotiations
with the union following two days of protest action
by scores of employees.
The
protest on Monday halted distribution of cement
from TCL’s Claxton Bay factory and shut down
operations at its Mayo facility. The workers complained
that they were disatisfied with the terms of the
agreement the union had reached with the company.
The workers pointed to unsafe working conditions,
unsatisfactory remuneration and they had no confidence
in management.
In an interview on Tuesday, Roget said that discussions
were held with TCL concerning a general wage increase,
profit sharing, medical benefits and other items.
However, he said the union had not signed off on
the agreement, nor had they concluded wage talks.
TCL
announced the conclusion of the negotiations
for the 2006 - 2009 collective agreement in a
statement
on Monday in which the company said, “Settlements
were arrived at which provide significant benefits
to employees in all the bargaining units.”
But Roget said that the union had been given a
commitment by TCL that further talks will be held
to discuss problems raised by the demonstrating
workers.
A meeting was held between both parties yesterday,
but Roget could not be reached up to late yesterday.
However,
Laboratory quality control officer Gerwyn Edwards,
a spokesman for the protesting workers,
said that they were satisfied with yesterday’s
meeting. He said TCL had agreed to address their
health and safety concerns.
Edwards also said that TCL had agreed to reopen
the negotiations.
“We had raised concerns about the dust problems
at the milling area. TCL has agreed to rectify
this problem,” Edwards said. He added that
in the meantime, workers had agreed to delay further
protest action. Edwards said the OWTU and TCL have
scheduled another meeting for tomorrow.
Among the benefits listed by TCL which it said
were secured by workers in the 2006-2009 collective
agreement were:
- across-the-board
adjustments to wages of 16.5 per cent for the
three year period;
- continuation
of profit sharing plan;
- continuation
of gain sharing plan;
- new
incentive plans for health, safety and environment;
- new
productivity incentive plans for cement and clinker
production
- Significant
improvement in allowances; and
- a
commitment to review the medical plan benefits.
Story by
Radhica Sookraj from
The Trinidad Guardian
Trinidad
Guardian
Thursday 6th December, 2007
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