Govt must not do things just so

THE EDITOR: It is a matter of great disappointment that the Government has failed to meet and treat with the recognised majority union on the crisis that is building in the sugar industry.

To implement a VSEP package without negotiation with the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Union is a mistake that should not be allowed to happen. The position adopted by the Minister of Agriculture and the Prime Minister that a package has already been developed and that there is no need for negotiation with the union is unacceptable. The union is not just an interested party in a matter which impacts so fundamentally on the future of the sugar industry; it is a major stakeholder representing the most important resource in the industry and the persons most directly affected by the intended action.

It cannot be a reasonable position that the union is expected to agree to the implementation of restructuring without a full and comprehensive understanding of the future direction of the company and the industry. The proposals of the government must be known to all parties involved and all alternative suggestions considered in arriving at a final determination. The national community needs to be made aware that the sugar workers are at present in the process of negotiating a new collective agreement for the period 2001-2003.This process has broken down with the parties continuing to meet at the Ministry of Labour. Clearly this agreement needs to be finalised before any restructuring is implemented since it will of necessity impact on the terms of the VSEP package.

Further, a job classification exercise has been commenced (or had been agreed to) but has not yet been concluded. It is unreasonable to expect that the union would agree to the government’s proposal without knowing what is going to happen to these exercises. Any VSEP package which targets all the employees in an industry must be seen for what it is — retrenchment, not restructuring. Restructuring must involve the retention of some workers who are to be retrained to serve in the new operation. VSEP for all workers is in reality retrenchment. In the circumstances, the government must convene a meeting with the union as a matter of urgency to hold discussions on the future direction of the company and the role of the workers in that vision.

KARAN MAHABIRSINGH
Carapichaima