The Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), the recognised majority union for workers at the University of T&T (UTT), is yet to receive critical information from Education Minister Anthony Garcia on recent retrenchments at the institution.
Second vice president Sati Gajadhar-Inniss said the union submitted a counterproposal to the UTT’s proposed restructuring in February but the university’s board and management had “blatantly refused to discuss” the matter.
“The union did write to the Minister of Education on April 10 but to date is yet to receive a reply,” she said.
Gajadhar-Inniss said the UTT board has also been unwilling to consider adjusting allowances for high paying management, or other cost-cutting proposas which the OWTU claims would have saved more the university more than $40 million.
Approached for comment yesterday, Garcia said: “I have left all questions to be answered by the university’s board and management.”
Meanwhile, eight of the workers retrenched by the UTT are now seeking answers from Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus about the staff cuts at the university
The workers, who are being represented the Sanctuary Trade Union which is led by political activist Devant Maharaj, are asking whether UTT served notice to the Ministry of Labour but the retrenchments.
On May 11, 30 UTT staffers were served retrenchment letters, They include 11 lecturers from Centre of Education programmes. Last Friday, more letters were distributed at UTT campuses at O’Meara, Valsayn Teachers College, John Donaldson and Point Lisas.