Saith: Good faith, no terrorism at NBN

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Minis-ter Dr Lenny Saith declared that Government will ensure that National Broadcasting Network (NBN) employees “receive a fair deal” and Government had no doubt that they will see the wisdom in accepting the $32 million Termination of Employment (TEP) being offered to them as “further evidence of the fact that the Government continues to act in good faith.” Speaking in the Senate yesterday, Dr Saith dismissed allegations of State terrorism against NBN workers, and that Cabinet had only recently approved the TEP. “This matter has been affected by miscommunication, and this had led to anguish on the part of the employees. This we regret,” he said.

Saith recalled that Cabinet decided on November 6, 2003 to wind up NBN and create a new broadcasting entity — the Caribbean New Media Group Ltd (CNMG). Government subsequently hired BBC Technology to prepare the business plan for CNMG. The minister said, “with the sensitivity required,” Government deferred the incorporation of the new company pending resolution of the manpower separation issue with NBN’s representative unions — Electronic Media Union of TT (EMUTT), Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (UCIW) and Senior Staff Association (SSA). Saith said Cabinet agreed to the terms and conditions that NBN workers would be offered in an enhanced TEP on January 15 and, “immediately subsequent to this” extensive discussions between NBN and these unions on the enhanced TEP.

He said difficulties in these talks saw the matter being referred to the Industrial Court and, on November 8, the court upheld NBN’s position that “its offer was not unreasonable and that it had not acted in bad faith.” Saith said it was agreed that subject to Cabinet’s approval of the new terms and conditions of the enhanced TEP, NBN’s Board would initiate discussions with the unions in order to obtain an agreement. The minister said the judgment, with respect to the SSA, was handed down on November 25 and did not depart radically from the November 8 judgment.