Now TSTT, union scramble over victimisation clause

THE contentious word is “victimisation.” It is the main obstacle to the signing of a  new collective agreement between TSTT and the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) on behalf of junior staff workers.

At least this is the contention of the CWU. Lyle Townsend, secretary-general of the CWU said the union wants a guarantee that there would be no victimisation of workers who took part in protest action over the last few months. “There are two issues that are affecting the entire negotiations. One is the issue of paying driving allowance to different categories of workers at different prices,” said Townsend. He named the other issue as “a no victimisation clause” that the union is seeking to include in the agreement.

Townsend said he wants a guarantee that there would be no recrimination or any disciplinary action against anybody for things that may have been done during the process. “We have been mandated by members of the Communication Workers’ Union not to agree to anything that does not have that rider clause  to avoid continuous fighting and victimisation of workers. The company has said no. “We are suggesting that they intend to continue victimisation, despite any agreement that might be reached.” According to Townsend, every time there is a major altercation between the union and a company, it ends in that same clause — no victimisation. “We are not saying to the company that we do not want disciplinary action against workers at all,” said Townsend. The CWU leader said he knows that TSTT is planning to victimise people, “and we will not tolerate that at all,” he added.

Meanwhile, TSTT said last night that an agreement on the terms of settlement is still uncertain “even though the parties have arrived at agreement on the key items.” Executive vice-president Oliver Flax said, “To agree to such a clause (no victimisation) is tantamount to bad management by the leadership of the company, and even more sets an undesirable precedent for future negotiations. We cannot simply ignore the impact that this impasse has had on our employers, our customers and our business. We are firmly committed to settling the matter and to ensuring that payment is made on or before December 19, 2003,” he said. The terms of settlement provide for an increase of 11 percent on salary over the three-year period 2000, 2001 and 2002. The breakdown is four percent in the first year and four and three percent respectively for the following two years.

Cost of Living Allowance will be consolidated as at December 31, 1999, and thereafter on salary as at December 31, 2002. There will be an increase of four percent on salary for the period January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005. Salaries and retroactive salary payments will be paid on or before December 19, 2003, if agreement is reached by today. A sum of $4,000 will be credited to each employee on the permanent junior staff establishment of the company as at the date of signing the Memorandum of Agreement, for the establishment of a savings plan. This sum will be paid into an escrow account, until such time that the company and the union develop rules which will govern the plan. A number of allowances, including driving allowances paid to technicians, have been increased.