By Sue-Ann Wayow
UNTIL all consultations are completed between the Communication Workers’ Union and the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), the company will not be making any more information available to the public.
TSTT met with the union on Tuesday as previously announced to discuss the company’s proposed restructuring which the union is claiming is simply retrenchment.
In a statement on Wednesday, TSTT said it was bombarded with enquiries including from the media concerning the outcomes of the meeting.
TSTT stated, “While we fully understand the public’s and the media’s interest in this matter, TSTT does not consider itself at liberty to put into the public domain, the details of these meetings or of the ongoing consultative process. As a responsible employer who is committed to observing the principles of good industrial relations practice, TSTT subscribes to the principles of good faith consultation.
“These principles include observing the duty of the parties to speak to and share relevant details on the restructuring proposal directly with each other, at the consultation table, and to refrain from conducting the consultations through public announcements and statements to the media. Once the consultation process is completed, TSTT will be pleased to answer such enquiries as it is at liberty to, at that stage.”
The company added that while unions may publicly voice their concerns via the media, “TSTT does not agree that it should itself follow suit.”