Wednesday, April 16 2008

Operations returned to normal after an agreement was reached at Trinidad Cement Limited, Claxton Bay following a marathon negotiation session between management and members of the Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU) which concluded yesterday morning.

The negotiation took close to 15 hours to complete. According to a union representative, an agreement was arrived at following deliberations on the outstanding issues of medical and pension plans.

Negotiations concerning wages, housing and salaries were completed last year. The meeting started just after 12 pm on Monday and concluded at about 3.30 am yesterday. Leading the OWTU’s negotiation team were president- general, Errol McLeod, first vice president, Ancil Roget, and TCL branch president, Lawrence Reno and secretary, Eutrice Standish.

TCL’s negotiation team comprised human relations manager Keith Johnson and quarry manager, Keith Ramjitsingh.

On Monday, hundreds of workers at the TCL’s Claxton Bay and Mayo facilities protested over the company’s refusal to settle demands for upgraded medical and pension plans.

The collective agreement is expected to be signed by month-end.