Operations at TTPost is expected to return to normalcy next Tuesday as Public Utilities Minister, Ancil Antoine, has given the assurance that 50 per cent of the outstanding backpay is expected to be paid next week.
President of the Postal Workers’ Union, David Forbes, said the union was called to an emergency meeting with Antoine yesterday.
Describing the meeting as fruitful, Forbes said the union was holding the minister to his word that the monies would be paid.
“We were told that the monies were expected to reach management by this afternoon (yesterday) so that it could be processed on time for next Tuesday.”
But Forbes said operations of TTPost throughout the country were crippled for a second day yesterday as 95 per cent of workers stayed away from the job to protest against yet another delay of their backpay payments.
There were complaints by members of the public of closed post offices in Arima and Curepe resulting in pension cheques not being accessed.
The workers, who are being owed a total of $49 million, were supposed to receive half of their monies yesterday covering a 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 end of August resulting in workers expressing their disgust over the situation, Forbes said.
The news of the delay, he said, was communicated to the union via the company’s managing director at the “eleventh hour” on Wednesday afternoon following which the union held an emergency executive meeting. A decision was then made 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. They indicated 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 eleventh hour management told us there would be a further deferral of the payment,” Forbes said.
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 included delivery, retail, transport and administrative staff.
Regarding pension cheques Forbes said some were yet to be processed and there customers would be able to receive them later next week.
TTPost’s managing director, Reynold Baldeosingh, had given the assurance that the matter was being sorted out, adding that people wanting to collect mail must use over- the-counter services until the situation is rectified.
In a statement yesterday, TTPost apologised to the members of the public for the continued disruption in service.
It said: “The situation is as a result of another day in which we are plagued by high levels of absenteeism. TTPost empathises with the public, especially recipients of social welfare grants.
“However, we anticipate resumption of regular services on Tuesday.”