The Union says it has reached no agreement on payment of outstanding back pay.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) says no agreement has been reached with the Trinidad and Tobago government regarding the payment of outstanding arrears to port workers over the past five years.

“The Union makes it absolutely clear that no discussions took place and no agreement was reached with the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) or the Minister responsible for the Port to settle workers’ back pay in five annual tranches,” the SWWTU said in a statement.

It said that its “rejection of a five-year back pay arrangement must not be interpreted as a rejection of back pay or of workers’ entitlement to receive all monies owed to them.

“The settlement of outstanding back pay and all monies owed for acting appointments remains unresolved. Any calculations must include all outstanding arrears, including pension payments, overtime and acting allowances,” the Union said, adding that “any payments already made to workers cannot be interpreted as the Union’s acceptance of a five-year payment arrangement.”

The Union has said in the past that port workers are awaiting the payment of millions of dollars (One TT dollar = US$ 0.16) in remaining back pay and overtime after receiving a 20 percent payment on basic wages last July.

The Union maintains that port workers are “entitled to accurate information and the full settlement of their outstanding entitlements.

“SWWTU therefore calls for an immediate clarification of the statements made and meaningful engagement to resolve these longstanding matters. The Union remains firm in its position: workers’ outstanding entitlements must be honored, and no agreement should be attributed to the Union where none exists,” said SWWTU president general, Michael Annisette.

During the TT$63.6 billion budget debate in the Senate on Monday, Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Minister and Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Dr Kennedy Swaratsingh, said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has directed that negotiations with trade unions be concluded as quickly as possible.

He said this should pave the way for settling outstanding salary agreements, including the proposed 10 percent salary increase for public servants.

“We chose settlement over stagnation, and we choose to place dignity, economic security, and contribution of workers back at the center of national development where it rightfully belongs.

“The 10 percent salary increase is therefore more than a numerical adjustment; this government’s philosophy states that those who keep the machinery of State functioning must share fairly in the progress of the nation,” he added.

Earlier this month, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo said funds are available to meet the government’s current wage obligations and that Parliament will secure additional resources if needed.