NBN staffers to accept VSEP

JUNIOR staffers of both the radio and television arms of the National Broadcasting Network (NBN) have decided to accept the VSEP package offered by their employers. This is inspite of the fact that the Industrial Court in its judgment last Monday indicated that its ruling should not preclude further discussions between the parties, should they see it fit. The court recommended that even at this late stage, the possibility of an amicable accord should not be overlooked.

The radio workers are represented by the Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (UCIW), while those on the television side have as their bargaining body, the Electronic Media Union of Trinidad and Tobago (EMUTT). The court, headed by Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell, ruled in favour of the NBN in both cases claiming the VSEP offered was not unreasonable. Yesterday, interim president of the EMUTT, Edward Camps explained that the court may be acting in good faith by leaving the door open for fresh negotiations, but the workers feel this is only wasting time. On the other hand, UCIW president, Kelvin Gonzales, although he had no reluctance in going back to the bargaining table, realised the workers are all in favour of acceptance. 

Both UCIW and EMUTT stood on almost the same ground in their evidence and arguments before the court, last July. The following is the court’s written decision in both matters: NBN’s obligations in negotiating in good faith towards an agreed VSEP have been discharged. In all the circumstances of the cases, the court’s decision was that the VSEP was not unreasonable. Now that the VSEP issue is out of the way, the junior staff of the NBN have called on the company to resume negotiations for the signing of the three-year collective agreement for the period September 1, 2001 to August 31, 2004. EMUTT said it had written to the Ministry of Labour about the workers’ plight, but to no avail. The Industrial Court is still to give a judgment in the VSEP issue involving NBN senior staffers.