That's the word from OWTU President Ancil Roget. The warning of possible blackouts come as wage talks broke between the union and the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) broke down.
Labour Minister Errol McLeod, who is a former OWTU president, has intervened to try to resolve the impasse in accordance with Section 56 of the Industrial Relations Act.
He said, "The importance of T&TEC in the country, I thought it was an appropriate time for the Minister to intervene...I feel quite happy that I had the cooperation of both the employer and the union."
McLeod told reporters he learned about the seriousness of the situation at T&TEC from watching a television news report showing several T&TEC workers protesting the state of the negotiations.
The commission's General Manager, Glenford Cyrille, said he is happy that the minister decided to intervene.
"We are very thankful for the Minister of Labour for making this timely intervention because the transmission and distribution of electricity is a labour intensive process.
"That's the business we are in and we have to recognize that it is labour intensive. So anytime we lose the enthusiasm of our workers, of course it will redound to our customers."
OWTU Vice President Peter Burke also welcomed the minister's intervention. However he said he cannot give any guarantee on how the workers will react since negotiations have been going on for 30 months. That's 18 months before the People's Partnership government took office.
"When workers are 30 months into a 36 month contract, and when the negotiations supposed to be finished at least two years prior, and the management puts proposals on the table that are inflammatory in nature, you will have workers reacting in a particular way.
"It is human nature. We belong to an essential service and we are not being treated essentially," Burke told reporters.
The Labour Minister, T&TEC's management and the OWTU are due to hold another meeting next Tuesday.
That's the same day that trade unions are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to discuss the labour movements several demands, including the unconditional removal of a five per cent cap on wage increases.
The Labour Minister, T&TEC's management and the OWTU are due to hold another meeting next Tuesday.
That's the same day that trade unions are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to discuss the labour movements several demands, including the unconditional removal of a five per cent cap on wage increases.
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