Attorney: Caroni consulted sugar union on VSEP

CONTRARY to the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union’s (ATSGWTU) claims, Caroni (1975) Limited discussed the VSEP packages it planned to offer sugar workers but the union caused those talks to break down. This was the argument advanced by company attorney, Allan Alexander SC, as the injunction filed by the ATSGWTU to stop the implementation of VSEP at Caroni was heard in the Industrial Court yesterday. Referring to claims by the union that it was never consulted about the  VSEP, Alexander said while Caroni was under no legal obligation, “it did attempt to do so.”

The attorney however said, it was the ATSGWTU which caused those talks to collapse and that this was proven by the union’s attorney Douglas Mendes in his earlier submission. While noting that Section 5 of the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act made it permissible for an employer to enter into consultation, it was different from treating and entering into negotiations. Explaining that the Act clearly outlines procedures concerning retrenchment, rights, duties and responsibilities of both employer and union, Alexander said the majority trade union “does not have the right before giving of notice to negotiate anything with respect to the retrenchment.”  The attorney also stated that Caroni made no attempt to change the provision of any collective agreement signed with the ATSGWTU. The matter will continue today at 9.30 am.