Trade Unions have agreed to meet with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar next week.
However they say are not going to negotiate the removal of the five per cent wage cap because it's not an issue for negotiation. They say they are holding to their demand that it must be removed.
"We are prepared to meet with the Prime Minister. We are prepared to articulate our position clearly. We are not going to negotiate with the Prime Minister. It is a farce on the part of the Government to portray us as requesting to negotiate with the Prime Minister," OWTU President General Ancil Roget told reporters Wednesday.
He added, "If the meeting facilitates the removal of the cap and invite the discussion on the other matters, well certainly, we will accede to that request. If the meeting, on the other hand, does not facilitate the just and fair and decent demands on the worker, to remove that cap, what will happen is that it will be very short meeting."
Roget accused the Prime Minister of subverting the collective bargaining process by being present at the signing of the PSA's wage negotiation agreement.
The unions are still threatening to shut down the country. "That strike will come like a thief in the night. That strike will come when the trade union leaders decide to call it," said Vincent Cabrera, President of the Bank and General Workers' Trade Union.
On July 7 the unions delivered a letter to the Prime Minister giving her two weeks to agree to a list of items. They said if she failed to do so they would shut down the country.
Their demands include:
However they say are not going to negotiate the removal of the five per cent wage cap because it's not an issue for negotiation. They say they are holding to their demand that it must be removed.
"We are prepared to meet with the Prime Minister. We are prepared to articulate our position clearly. We are not going to negotiate with the Prime Minister. It is a farce on the part of the Government to portray us as requesting to negotiate with the Prime Minister," OWTU President General Ancil Roget told reporters Wednesday.
He added, "If the meeting facilitates the removal of the cap and invite the discussion on the other matters, well certainly, we will accede to that request. If the meeting, on the other hand, does not facilitate the just and fair and decent demands on the worker, to remove that cap, what will happen is that it will be very short meeting."
Roget accused the Prime Minister of subverting the collective bargaining process by being present at the signing of the PSA's wage negotiation agreement.
The unions are still threatening to shut down the country. "That strike will come like a thief in the night. That strike will come when the trade union leaders decide to call it," said Vincent Cabrera, President of the Bank and General Workers' Trade Union.
On July 7 the unions delivered a letter to the Prime Minister giving her two weeks to agree to a list of items. They said if she failed to do so they would shut down the country.
Their demands include:
- The removal of 5% wage cap and settlement of all outstanding negotiations
- Disbanding and 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 and review of the National Youth Policy
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