Pension reform, outstanding negotiations and an increase in the retirement age were just some of the issues discussed between the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc) and Finance Minister Colm Imbert during an hour-long meeting yesterday.
President general of the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) James Lambert, who described the meeting as fruitful, said Imbert assured Natuc he would take their respective proposals into consideration while drafting next Monday’s budget.
“We had a very good meeting and we are grateful to the minister for his time and that he responded to our request,” Lambert said.
He said Natuc proposed that the retirement age for daily paid workers be 65 and not 60 as it was in some cases.
“Elsewhere in the Caribbean we have people working until they are 65 and 67. We consider 60 to be early for retirement,” Lambert said.
He said among the unions attending were the Postal Workers’ Union, Domestic Workers’ Union, the Public Service Association and representatives of contractors from San Fernando.
Lambert said Imbert also promised to meet again with Natuc as soon as possible.
“We believe we have made some inroads at the meeting and we are hoping our recommendations will have some measure of implementation in the budget,” Lambert added.
In a statement issued by Michael Annisette on Sunday it said it hoped yesterday’s meeting was an indication that Imbert wanted labour to be an integral partner with respect to any discussions and proposals which may take place regarding T&T’s economic growth and progression.
But Annisette had said he had noted though, with some concern, that several government ministers had not responded to date to the union’s request for a meeting.
“The National Union and Government Federated Workers is intensely aware of its responsibilities as the federation that is recognised locally, regionally and internationally and more importantly by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as the federation most representative of labour in T&T.
“The ILO is also the only UN body that is tripartite in nature, comprising government, labour and employers. We also wish to underscore the fact that the Government now sits on the governing body of the ILO,” Annisette said.
He said the tripartite approach was fully supported by Natuc, adding it wanted to recommend to Government that tripartite approach should be the policy used to deal with all challenges and difficulties that may confront the country.
“Natuc is of the view that the wealth gap and income gap is much too wide In T&T and places the trade unions and by extension the working class in T&T at a disadvantage.
“Natuc is also of the belief that this gap is the source of the many problems now besetting our beautiful twin island republic,” Annisette said.
He had also reiterated that all outstanding negotiations in the public sector be settled.
“We further renew our call for a complete revamping of the negotiation process for the public sector to ensure that all collective agreements are completed before the period of the collective agreement expires.
“We cannot and most not continue the unproductive spectacle of asking workers to carry out their respective duties on salaries agreed to in prior collective agreements where three, five and even seven years has elapsed.
“Natuc is also calling on the Government to remove legal notice #132 which gives foreigners the rights to work in T&T days without a work permit in jobs that can be done by locals.
“Natuc further renews its call for a labour representative to be placed on the Work Permit Committee. The removal of legal notice #132 will assist locals in getting more employment in the offshore and maritime sector,” Annisette had recommended.