Saturday, July 5 2008

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Steal of a deal: Passers-by got a chance to win prizes in Digicel's "Steal of a Deal" promotion which Digicel "Deal girls" offered on the Brian Lara P...

MEMBERS of the TT Postal Workers Union (TTPWU) and the management of TT Post have resumed talks on an agreement for outstanding payments.

TTPWU general secretary Reginald Critchlow on Thursday said a verbal agreement was reached last month between the union and TT Post management. According to Critchlow, the agreement stipulated that a 15 percent increase of the salary from 2005-2007 was owed to them as well as new cost of living allowance (COLA) of $100 per month.

Discussions regarding sick leave, shift, meal allowances and vacation were also brought to the table by union representatives, Critchlow said. He added that these proposals have not been implemented because management has not specified when the agreement will be fulfilled.

“We will not agree to anything until management has given some indication when the outstanding funds will be released,” Critchlow said. The general secretary added that if the management does not come up with a date it is up to the workers if they will launch any strike action. Last month, workers agreed to resume work after a settlement had apparently been reached but according to Critchlow, the TTPWU was told that TTPost was awaiting confirmation from the Ministry of Public Utilities when the funds would be issued.

TTPost communications manager Simone Farmer said, “While they are waiting on the signing of the negotiation settlement, senior management has to review what they have been hearing about the alleged statements the union was making.”