Wednesday, March 12 2008

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ON STRIKE: TT Post employees from the Couva branch engage in protest yesterday outside their workplace over general working conditions. ...

Employees of the National Maintenance Training and Security (MTS) say they are fed up over their poor working conditions

Darren Garcia, 34, an employee of MTS and the branch president of Transport and Industrial Workers Union, south branch, claimed that workers are denied basic rights associated with Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA). Garcia spoke on behalf of eight other union members, when they visited Newsday south office yesterday.

“The rooms where workers stay are near where the company stores chemicals. We have no adequate uniforms at all and no personal protective gear (PPP) such as masks. There is no health and safety and no first aid supplies. If there are any medical supplies such as bandages and sterile cotton they have expired. He said the union considers this to be blatant disrespect for the collective agreement,” Garcia said.

He also complained that, the employees have no lunch room and no refrigerator to keep cold items. Garcia wants an investigation into what is happening at MTS.

Kim Knights, 38, another member of the union, said that MTS salaries cannot help her daily life.

“Salaries cannot cover basic needs. The lowest pay for workers on new contracts is $10 and the older workers get $13 per hour. Some of the employees make less than $1500 a forthnight.

Knights said the union is tired of the slow pace of salary and working condition negotiations with MTS.

Corporate Communications Manager of MTS Lynette O’Neil, when contacted told Newsday she was not aware the workers had all of these complaints.