More South phones go dead as technicians’ protest lingers

Ever since South TSTT technicians downed tools last Wednesday to protest proposed changes in their job portfolios, 1,224 telephone lines in San Fernando went dead and have not been repaired. Now, there are some 3,218 lines dead and not being repaired in the entire Southland, strectching from La Romaine in the west to Mayaro on the east coast and as far south as Icacos.

TSTT sources told Newsday that on May 25, letters were issued by the telephone company to technicians from the Cable and Line Installation Department regarding the company’s intention to amend technicians’ job descriptions to include driving as part of their portfolio. This was met with strong objections and subsequent protests with the workers reportedly returning the letter to TSTT management with the blunt reply that they were not accepting driving as part of their duties as technicians. The workers also asked for consultation between their union — the Communications Workers Union (CWU) — and TSTT’s job evaluation project team and those responsible for amending the job descriptions.

CWU South branch secretary/treasurer Clyde Elder told Newsday the letters were sent out without consultation. He added that after a meeting yesterday at TSTT’s work centre in Cross Crossing, San Fernando, between company officials and workers, he was informed that legal action would be taken against the signatories and heads of departments. Elder noted that prior to the letters entailing the amendment of job descriptions, technicians were contented with driving company vehicles with driving allowances, under the company’s rules, which stated, if a technician drove as part of their work, they will be paid accordingly: Heavy Allowance — $396 and Light Allowance — $374, along with their monthly salaries.

“This means if the technicians accept the letter given to them by the company, the driving allowance claims will not be valid and that is why the union informed the company to withdraw the letters until the proper procedure was carried out,” Elder said. He added that workers intended to report for duty every day, but not drive until the company withdrew the letters or some sort of resolution is found. Newsday was told that TSTT technicians in North and Central also received similar letters but were still carrying out their normal duties. Efforts to reach TSTT South managers for comment yesterday proved futile.