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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC –At least 600 workers employed with the Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) downed tools on Monday in support of demands by their bargaining agents, the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) over increased salaries.
Acting OWTU president general Carlton Gibson told reporters that the union had presented a strike notice to the cement manufacturer and that the workers could be off the jobs for as long as 90 days.
“The strike can go on for 90 days but it also allows for the parties to meet to find a solution,” he said.
The union is seeking a 6 per cent increase over a three year period was justifiable, with TCL indicating that it was prepared to offer a 6.5 per cent hike and other incentives.
The TCL said Monday that it had enough supplies on the local market to last two weeks but insisted that a “strike is not in the best interest of anyone and we are hoping we can settle that as quickly as possible”.
In a paid advertisement in the local press, TCL, said the “approach being taken by the company is one of reasonableness taking into account the interests of all stakeholders and one of sustainability, not only for today but into the future to ensure the viability of TCL and the TCL Group”.
The company said that 95 per cent of the matters under negotiations “have already been settled and the remaining items are directly related to general increases and profit sharing scheme”.
TCL said that its compensation for workers “is currently among the best in Trinidad and Tobago” and that its current wage bill stands at approximately TT$160 million (US$26.6 million), which it said amounted to 32 per cent of operating costs while the industry norm is 25 per cent.
TCL said that it has proposed an additional three per cent wage increase on the original offer through a gain share scheme and has also agreed to a significant increase in allowances.
“The total package will cost TCL approximately TT$35 million (US$5.04 million) of an overall increase to employees approximating 35 per cent over the three-year period ending 2011,” TCL said.
CMC/ir/2012