Some 1,200 employees of TTPost engaged in sick out action throughout the country yesterday to protest against yet another delay of their back pay payments.
The workers, who are owed $49 million, were supposed to receive their monies today. It was supposed to be paid in two tranches covering the period 2011 to 2013.
The first payment was to be made at the end of June but was postponed to July.
This was yet again deferred to the end of August resulting in workers expressing their disgust over the situation, said president of the Postal Workers’ Union David Forbes.
The news of the delay, he said, was communicated to the union via the company’s managing director at the “11th hour” following which the union held an emergency executive meeting on Monday.
It was decided then by workers to engage in the protect action.
“We would have reported to the workers about the further deferral to August and they expressed their dissatisfaction and disappointment over that and they indicated that their legitimate expectation has been dampened.
“As a result the workers decided to stay home to rest and reflect and in some instances some of them became actually sick by what they heard. At the 11th hour management told us there would be a further deferral of the payment,” Forbes said.
Saying that the workers had been “reasonable” by patiently waiting for their money, he said some of them, including single mothers, were banking on the money to purchase school books and uniforms before the start of the new academic year.
“We never took any action before but now the goalpost keeps shifting and that is at the expense of the workers’ livelihood which has been negatively impacted on.
“Somebody needs to set it right. The Government has been asking the union to tell the workers hold off but how long could they do that again?” Forbes asked.
He said there was some expected backlash from members of the public over yesterday’s action but maintained that the workers had suffered far too long.
“Workers certainly are citizens of this country who understand the situation we are in and they accepted the offer from the Government of tranche payments and now you tell us one month, then you come to another month and then again another month and no back pay,” Forbes added.
He said during the general election campaign workers had thrown their support behind the PNM but now they believed the Government had abandoned them.
Among the areas affected were delivery, retail, transport and administrative staff.
“Delivery is totally flat. Overall we have a 90 per cent staying away of employees of TTPost,” Forbes added.
Meanwhile, at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news briefing Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said there was a commitment to pay 50 per cent of the back pay to the postal workers and it would be paid by August 31, Independence Day.
TTpost responds
Speaking on i95.5fm yesterday, TT Post’s managing director, Reynold Baldeosingh, said the management only became aware of the action yesterday morning.
“This morning (yesterday) management became aware of a high level of absenteeism at all our remote locations which is the network of 47 delivery offices and 17 corporate shops. Prior to that we were not informed by the union of any action that is going to be implemented and we have not been formerly notified by the union that the high levels of absenteeism is in fact industrial action,” Baldeosingh said.
He said management was aware that workers were awaiting payment of arrears but said efforts were being made to ensure the monies were paid in the quickest possible time.
“Management, together with the Ministry of Public Utilities, have been working to put everything in place in order to pay the arrears. The union and the national public is well aware of the current economic situation that the country faces. The union is well aware that the Minister of Finance and a team is trying to source funds,” Baldeosingh added.
He said people wanting to collect mail must use over the counter services until the situation was rectified.