TIWU warns MTS of industrial action

Union officers Darren Garcia and Kanhai Deonarine attached to the union’s south branch complained to Newsday that workers were being forced to work in poor conditions, without safety equipment, proper tools and uniforms.

All these issues, he said, had been addressed in a proposal for a new collective agreement for 2006 to 2008. But, to date, he said that agreement has not come into effect.

Garcia explained that in the previous agreement which ended last June, the workers were only paid back-pay for one year. He said Labour Minister Danny Montano, who was involved in the negotiations between the union and the company, agreed to pay the workers their outstanding money in the new agreement.

However Garcia said the new collective agreement was given to management in April and to date the company has not even acknowleged it.

“What we want is for the agreement to be enforced with immediate effect,” Garcia demanded.

He explained that the workers whose duties include the maintenance of schools, police stations, court houses and other institutions were fed up with the poor working conditions.

He called on Montano and Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert to intervene and address their issues.“If we don’t get any response we are going to take industrial action,” Garcia said.