“We anticipate nothing less than 10%.”
‘govt looks to settle’:Prison Officers’ Association president Gerard Gordon.
So said general secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Workers Union (TTPWU) David Forbes, in response to Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo’s pronouncement that provisions will be made in the national budget 2027 to meet obligations arising from ongoing negotiations with trade unions representing workers, including nurses and teachers.
:‘give workers their due’: Natuc general secretary Michael Annisette.
He had made the announcement in the Parliament during the debate on a motion to adopt the report of the Standing Finance Committee on Monday.During his contribution, Tancoo had outlined the reasons for Government’s request for an additional $2.9 billion in supplementary funding, saying the money was needed to address urgent and critical recurrent and capital expenditure up to September 30, 2026. He said relief would come for workers when the next budget is presented later this year.“Mr Speaker, I am advised that some unions today are anxious to see if there is supplementation for their negotiations. I am reliably informed tabulation and quantification required should be completed over the next few weeks and perhaps months, and therefore, appropriate provisions will be made in the budget fiscal 2027 to meet all obligations settled between now and budget 2027,” he said.In a telephone interview yesterday, Forbes said: “It’s impressive to make such a pronouncement in keeping with the labour agenda as it relates to the State’s policy. A large swathe of workers were concerned. But the Government would have gone through its checks and balances. We welcome the announcement. We are happy to know it included postal workers.”He added: “We are treating with 2013 to 2019 wages. We are nearing completion of non-cost items. We await guidelines for the CPO (Chief Personnel Officer) in regard to the cost items. We anticipate nothing less than 10%. Our last proposal was 12%. We have a job evaluation matter which will be addressed when the negotiations are concluded.”Forbes said he was not “so surprised” by the announcement.“I think it was on the cards. There was some uncertainty, because some people don’t understand how mid-year works. It would lead into the new budget. The Government just needed to close off the fiscal period and other fiscal measures,” he explained.He also noted there were unions which had signed off for 4%, including Amalgamated Workers Union and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA).As Labour Day celebrations swing into high gear before the holiday on Friday, Forbes said: “We want to encourage workers to participate in the historical walk. They should remember the challenges which workers faced. It’s a general call for workers across the nation.”He also anticipated Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) president Ancel Roget would share more views about Tancoo’s announcement and other pressing labour issues, like the reopening of the Petrotrin refinery, at the Labour Day celebrations.Extend to all categories ► subhead ◄General secretary of the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc) Michael Annisette also commented on the Finance Minister’s announcement yesterday in an interview with the Express.“I welcome the idea every effort has been made to give workers their just due. It’s good for the economy. The workers have been patient and continued working assiduously. I want it to be extended to all Government categories of workers. They, too, should get all their outstanding collective agreements settled.“We must never allow this financial and economic ‘madness’ to happen. Workers should be able to recover their purchasing power that was lost. We have to ensure there’s no recurrence,” he stressed.He added: “Collective agreements must be settled within the specified time period. It’s for three years. Why should a hard worker have to wait ten or 12 years? People are our greatest resource, and every effort should be made to ensure they are respected and properly remunerated. There must be sustainable growth and sustainable employment. The International Labour Organisation promotes ‘decent wages and sustainable jobs’.”Also speaking by telephone, president of the Prison Officers’ Association Gerard Gordon said: “It signals to us Government is looking towards settling these outstanding negotiations within the shortest possible time. We are not currently actively engaged in negotiations. We are preparing a counter-proposal for the Chief Personnel Officer.”He added: “When we do engage, certainly, we would be looking forward to being able to settle the outstanding period (2020 to 2022) and have the necessary adjustments made for the men and women and their salaries moving forward.”On Monday, Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) president Crystal Ashe told the Express the association rejected the Finance Minister’s timeline, noting that timelines previously communicated by Government had changed on several occasions.“When will it end? Will it be at the end of their term in office?” he asked.Trinidad and Tobago National Nursing Association (TTNNA) president Idi Stuart, also speaking on Monday, said the association welcomed the announcement and will consult its membership on the proposed timeline for salary increases.Efforts to contact Roget, Public Services Association (PSA) president Felisha Thomas and Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) president Shawn Roberts yesterday were unsuccessful.
