CWU: Retrenchment for Tobago TSTT Workers

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By Chantalé Fletcher

THE Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) warns Tobagonians of retrenchment by the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT).

“Tobagonians be careful of those who come bearing gifts, as this PNM Government has a sinister plan for TSTT and worst for Tobago,” according to Secretary General of CWU Clyde Elder in a Facebook live on Friday.

He said the union received information about another retrenchment exercise and the decimation of Tobago TSTT, but hoped that these were just rumours.

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But in a release on Saturday, TSTT refuted any claims of retrenchment in Tobago or elsewhere.

Elder said that in 2018, 500 workers in Trinidad were terminated.

He said, “We received information that Tobago TSTT would be decimated and the only thing keeping back the company was the pending Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections on December 6.

“If the government and TSTT should implement their plan, it is going to result in hundreds of job losses both in Trinidad and in Tobago. There are just about 100 employees in Tobago and if this retrenchment is true, when they are finished with Tobago, they may be 20 if so much.”

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Elder said, “If the government interferes with Tobago now, you can understand the political fallout that is going to come on December 6.”

He claimed that 600 may be retrenched.

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Elder said, “We are looking at you Tobago to send a message to this government that their actions are not acceptable by us and the people by T&T.”

Elder questioned, “If TSTT right now has an employee base of 800 to 1,000 and 600 of that base goes then we may have 200 or less in TSTT, then what would become of TSTT?”

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He added the plan was to promote Amplia as the company of choice as it was owned 100% by TSTT.

Elder said, “This was Lisa Agard’s baby, the new CEO of TSTT, who still believed she was in charge of Amplia.

“However, more hurtful and more vexatious was that we are owed money, but they said they can’t pay us, yet they have money to finance another retrenchment exercise.”

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He added that their agenda was to destroy TSTT.

Elder questioned Agard on the resignation of Pernel Roberts which came after he sent out a public announcement about the Zero Copper initiative.

He asked, “Did his resignation have anything to do with your personal relationship between you and him? Or was it because he was not in support of the actions taking place in TSTT?”

Elder said, “Whether they had plans to get rid of trade unions or to say what was the reason they were bent to destroy every good paying decent jobs?”

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Elder said there was a misconception that TSTT workers just like Petrotrin workers were overpaid. He said this was not true as the rest of the country was grossly underpaid.

And in its statement, TSTT stated that it has made no decision to embark upon any staff reduction exercises in Tobago, or at all.

The release stated, “TSTT also emphatically denies that it has issued any letter of impending or planned termination to any of its managers.

“As before, TSTT continues to take steps to address the cost and revenue challenges associated with the changes in technology which have revolutionized the way subscribers consume telecommunications services and, more recently, the adverse impact of the economic conditions as result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In doing so, TSTT remains committed to working with the CWU and all stakeholders to ensure TSTT’s survival and to observing the tenets of good industrial relations practice. TSTT also gives the assurance the Company will not violate these tenets in any circumstances.”

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