Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath has announced a landmark agreement which he says signifies progress in the Government’s efforts to address unresolved industrial relations matters and improve conditions for affected workers.
The Minister made the statement in the House of Representatives on Friday.
“PowerGen and the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) have reached a historic TT$66.1 million wage settlement, bringing closure to nine and a half years of outstanding wage negotiations. Mr Speaker, nine and a half years. Nine and a half years of unresolved negotiations under the former PNM administration. But today, through meaningful dialogue and decisive action, we have delivered a settlement that puts workers first.”
The settlement addresses two outstanding bargaining periods, with the agreed increase expected to provide financial relief to eligible PowerGen employees before the end of the year.
“The outstanding bargaining periods, 2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2020, when our friends opposite were in Government and sat on their hands delivering absolutely nothing to workers at PowerGen. Mr Speaker, providing a 9% cumulative wage increase over five years, representing, Mr Speaker, this increase. This benefits approximately 150 eligible workers with outstanding payments scheduled to be made by the 15th of December 2026.”
Minister Padarath also defended the Government’s approach to settling the dispute while criticising the former PNM administration for its handling of the negotiations.
“The matter was resolved through bilateral negotiations rather than a ruling, compared to what has happened with my friends opposite in the Industrial Court. Where there was deadlock, we delivered dialogue. Where there was uncertainty, we delivered results. Just yesterday, the Honourable Prime Minister, the Member for Siparia, publicly challenged trade union leaders to put their members’ interests above political considerations. Today, we are putting the people first. Mr Speaker, they deserve fair compensation and tangible results.”