Lake Asphalt workers get a 12% pay hike over three years

Two three-year industrial contracts — one on behalf of the hourly and weekly paid workers, and the other for the monthly rated junior staffers — were signed on Thursday between the Contractors and General Worker Trade Union (CGWTU) and Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago (1978) Limited. The signing of the two collective agreements for the period June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2005,  took place  at Soong’s Great Wall Restaurant  on Circular Road, San Fernando. Delivering a short address at the ceremony president general of the CGWTU, Owen Hinds stated that the union was able to win considerable and improved benefits for workers of both bargaining units.

He revealed that workers received a general wage increase of 12 per-cent over the three year period as follows:  June 1, 2002 - five per-cent; June , 2003 - four percent, and June 1, 2004 - three percent. Hinds added that along with the wage increases there have been marked increases in Cost of Living Allowance, Travelling Allowance, and Disturbance Allowance. Subsistence Allowance is now $31 for the hourly rated workers while the junior staff employees  now receive $45. According to Hinds, included in the negotiations were the reclassification of 11 workers, four of whom were moved from the hourly/weekly bargaining unit, to the Junior Staff.