Ministers willing to talk with labour bosses

The trade union movement said Thursday it wil not hold any further talks with cabinet minister and have demanded that they meet with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissesar.

However, two Cabinet Ministers told reporters they are leaving the door open for talks with the unions.

Labour Minister Errol McLeod called on labour leaders to meet with government representatives at the table.

Speaking at the post cabinet media briefing, he said, "We might appear to have mounted our horses and we would be well encouraged to both dismount our high horses and deal with the real situation."

Planning minister Dr Bhoe Tewari, who has made futile attempts to meet with the union bosses, also expressed a desire to deal with the unions. And he suggested that the five per cent is negotiable.

"If we find ourselves at the table, I feel you can make the assumption that the spirit would be that negotiations are open. But you cannot negotiate before the negotiation. You cannot negotiate to negotiate," he said.