President of the Public Services Association (PSA) Watson Duke and First Vice President (FVP) Felisha Thomas, last week gave status updates on salary negotiations for 20 bargaining units. 

If you are a member of the PSA and you belong to one of the bargaining units, you can view the status of your salary negotiations here, (kindly note that 15 added bargaining units are to be posted in further updates):

Agricultural Developmental Bank (ADB):

– FVP indicated that ADB was now before the Industrial Court with failure to meet and treat with regards to 2014-2016 salary negotiations.  She stated that ADB’s management failed to understand that they (ADB) had no option when it came to meeting with the PSA as the Recognized Majority Union (RMU). She indicated that ADB was duty bound to meet and treat with the Association regarding all negotiations. She said that despite the minor set backs, the PSA expected a good outcome with regards to ADB’s negotiations. 

Airport Authority (AA):

– This proposal was submitted on the 28 September 2020 and management was in the process of reviewing and processing the proposal to soon begin negotiations with the PSA. 

Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS):

– FVP commended the Bureau for taking positive steps regarding negotiations, as negotiations were before the Ministry of Labour and management had taken the step to engage the PSA. FVP Thomas stated that they were awaiting feedback from the Bureau’s consultant to finish a quarantine period in order to commence the negotiations.

Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA):

– FVP indicated that the PSA had written to management to begin negotiations. She stated that meetings were had with the HR Manager and the consultant in relation to a response. “They are committed to giving us some feedback on when they would be able to start those negotiations. We are hopeful that those negotiations will commence very soon,” said Ms. Thomas.

Housing Development Corporation (HDC):

• FVP stated that the first meeting with management was had in February and that negotiations were expected last Monday. However, she said that with the reopening of the offices, she understood that management’s time was restricted. She did state that a new date is to be set to engage in the negotiation processes. 

In Part II of this series we will provide up to date news regarding the status of negotiations for five (5) additional bargaining units.

Reporter: Melissa Goodman