Port Union Denies Five-Year Backpay Deal

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The Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union has rejected a suggestion made during parliamentary proceedings that Port of Spain port workers’ outstanding backpay would be settled in five annual instalments. In a statement reported by the 27 October Guardian, the union said it had neither held discussions nor reached any such agreement with the Port Authority or the minister responsible for the port.

Sources: Guardian, 27 Oct, p8 ↗

The union’s objection is about the claim of agreement, not about whether workers should receive backpay. It says outstanding sums also include acting appointments and that any accounting must consider pension contributions, overtime and other allowances. Those components could change the total owed; the reviewed account does not provide a reconciled figure or a payment schedule.

The next useful record is a statement from the Port Authority or ministry specifying whether a proposal was made, who was consulted and how each category of arrears is calculated. Until then, the five-year arrangement should be described as disputed rather than an agreed settlement.

Sources: Guardian, 27 Oct, p8 ↗