"There is no 5% cap," she told reporters. "They go back to the bargaining table, start from fresh because they were of the view that the process of bargaining had been contaminated in some way by this 5% cap.
"Therefore, let us start, Tabula Rasa, clean slate. Start from zero. The table is clean and negotiate upwards. There is no 5% cap. I indicated that we were prepared to make that statement today," Persad-Bissessar said.
However she said the unions rejected that.
"They are not prepared to accept what I suggested which is, let us wipe the slate clean...and negotiate upwards as far as your employer, relevant employer, has the capability to pay," she said.
She explained that during the discussions she had to declare the Government's position on the wage negotiation process.
"And at that point, I felt as I said, that I was in a position that I will now be negotiating what should be dealt with by the various employers and the CPO and I could not accede to that request," she told the media.
She added, “If it were that I had removed this five per cent cap then they would go to the bargaining table, starting at five per cent and then I would have entered into negotiations with them.
"That’s where we agreed to disagree and I suggested that we terminate the meeting because we were not going further,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Persad-Bissessar made it clear that if the unions still opt for a general strike she is confident that Government's contingency plans will work.
"I am not of the view, first of all, that there will be a general national strike with the whole country shutting down. I am not of that view. Secondly, those sectors that are involved, should they come to that, yes we have plans in place."
The meeting was called to discuss the list of demands that the unions provided to the PM earlier this month. They included:
With respect top the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Persad-Bissessar said the unions she gave an assurance that she will review the committee. She also said she told the labour leaders that labour legislation is high on her government's agenda.
She updated the union representatives on this noting that legislation to be tackled include the Minimum Wages Act, the Masters and Servants Ordinance, the Maternity Protection Act, Employee Compensation Bill, the Cooperative Societies Act, the Industrial Relations Act, Paternity Leave, Private Security legislation, Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act, OSH Act, Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies Act.
She also said her government is committed to a Land Use and Agriculture Policy. She explained that the policy includes bringing more lands into productive agriculture to increase the food supply.
Persad-Bissessar refused to make a blanket commitment to reinstate displaced workers. "I was very clear, in principle, on the position we took as a policy position, which was to advertise these jobs when the contracts expired," she said.
She also gave a commitment that Constitutional Reform is on her agenda with plans for term limits, fixed election dates and the right of recall.
"I indicated to the extent that Cabinet had already before it, notes with research relating to these three items and before the end of this year, consultations will begin on this process," she said.
She added that Cabinet has already given the approval for a Constitutional Commission to be established.
"I am not of the view, first of all, that there will be a general national strike with the whole country shutting down. I am not of that view. Secondly, those sectors that are involved, should they come to that, yes we have plans in place."
The meeting was called to discuss the list of demands that the unions provided to the PM earlier this month. They included:
- The removal of 5% wage cap and settlement of all outstanding negotiations
- Disbanding or removal of the Inter-Ministerial Committee
- Placement of labour legislation high on Government's agenda
- Constitutional Reform and immediate implementation of the Labour Market Survey for TTUTA
- Commencement of a Land Use and Agriculture Policy
- Reinstatement of all displaced workers on account of the non-renewal of their contracts
- Restricting of the Project Implementation Unit
- Review of the National Youth Policy
With respect top the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Persad-Bissessar said the unions she gave an assurance that she will review the committee. She also said she told the labour leaders that labour legislation is high on her government's agenda.
She updated the union representatives on this noting that legislation to be tackled include the Minimum Wages Act, the Masters and Servants Ordinance, the Maternity Protection Act, Employee Compensation Bill, the Cooperative Societies Act, the Industrial Relations Act, Paternity Leave, Private Security legislation, Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act, OSH Act, Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies Act.
She also said her government is committed to a Land Use and Agriculture Policy. She explained that the policy includes bringing more lands into productive agriculture to increase the food supply.
Persad-Bissessar refused to make a blanket commitment to reinstate displaced workers. "I was very clear, in principle, on the position we took as a policy position, which was to advertise these jobs when the contracts expired," she said.
She also gave a commitment that Constitutional Reform is on her agenda with plans for term limits, fixed election dates and the right of recall.
"I indicated to the extent that Cabinet had already before it, notes with research relating to these three items and before the end of this year, consultations will begin on this process," she said.
She added that Cabinet has already given the approval for a Constitutional Commission to be established.
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