From breaches in collective agreements to not meeting and treating with the Public Services Association (PSA), the employees of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) have had it.

CDA’s staff has expressed complete dissatisfaction with their employers, as they have indicated that its been seven years since employees received their Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and nine years since they have received their last issue of uniforms, which according to their collective agreement, should be provided annually.

The Public Services Association (PSA), represented by First Vice President (FVP), Felisha Thomas, has stated that the PSA currently has the CDA in court for a failure to meet and treat with the union.  The hearing is dated November 24, 2021.

She said that management has continued to unilaterally change the terms and conditions of employment and for this, the PSA has brought them before the Industrial Court.

Members have highlighted management’s continued refusal to fill vacancies. They said that permanent positions were made contract positions and added to that, workers continued to be blatantly disrespected; as such positions were not advertised internally.

According to the employees, no resolve has been met, despite their many attempts to address their grievances.

FVP Thomas stated that the PSA would not sit idly and allow the management of CDA to disrespect workers as they like. “The PSA is adamant that workers rights cannot be violated in this manner!”