TTUTA meets in emergency session on wage talks

THE General Council of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association met in an emergency session on December 12 to discuss ongoing wage negotiations for 2020-2023, the union said in a statement on December 15.

"This meeting was called because of counter-proposals received from the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) with respect to the negotiation period 2020-2023 contained in a letter dated December 9, that was received by the association on the evening of December 10."

The statement said TTUTA had decided on courses of action in two areas, namely relative to the CPO and to its membership.

Firstly, the union agreed to write to the CPO insisting that the established/agreed process of the External Labour Market (ELM) survey must be used and that this survey must be completed. The ELM is understood to mean to consider wages in light of the wages paid elsewhere in the job market for equivalent jobs.

The statement added, "COLA must be consolidated. TTUTA is always willing to negotiate with the CPO."

Secondly, TTUTA agreed to engage in several actions for its membership.

The union will conduct a public relations campaign to educate the members of the public and TTUTA members on the merits of TTUTA’s data-driven negotiation process.

The union will mandate its committee to continue with negotiations regarding the CPO’s counterproposal.

TTUTA will also formulate a salary proposal that is based on the closure of the market, upon the completion of the External Labour Market survey.

"TTUTA will continue to keep our membership updated about negotiations in a timely manner. We ask our members to be vigilant and remain resolute and ready for when you may be called upon to participate in this process."