News

Workers at Cable & Wireless under the Bargaining Units of the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers’ Union voted overwhelmingly in mass in an industrial ballot conducted November 26th.

In a near unanimous vote in a ballot conducted by TAWU the workers have signaled to the Union that they are prepared to take industrial action including strike action to press the Company to settle the Collective Labour Agreement.

Negotiations between Cable & Wireless and TAWU has been ongoing now for about a year with no settlement on two (2) burning issues, salary increases and vehicle buyout compensation.

Earlier this week on Tuesday last the Minister made his recommendations to the parties thus concluding his mediation efforts. The Union has since accepted those recommendations and has confirmed its acceptance in an official letter to the Minister of Labour Hon. Elvin Nimrod which correspondence was copied to the Company. Cable & Wireless has not responded.

Coming against the announcement to the Union that there will be a 30% loss of jobs across the combined Cable & Wireless and Flow there is a grave state of anxiety and apprehension amongst the workers and in a letter sent to the Company in early September TAWU made it clear that before it will engage in any talks with Cable & Wireless about job cuts the outstanding matters in the negotiations for a new Collective Agreement which goes back to March 2012 must first be concluded.

In a comment after the ballot Senator Chester Humphrey - President General of TAWU has said that Cable & Wireless should take note of the mood of the workers and settle the two (2) outstanding issues promptly as the recommendations are conservative but equitable and fair. TAWU is expected to seek the solidarity of other sections of the Union.

Source:  Trade Union Movement in Grenada