Acting treasurer of the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) and president of the local government section, Heston Lambert, says the Government owes workers at the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation millions in backpay. Daily-rated workers at the corporation yesterday protested, demanding arrears they said were still outstanding since negotiations were settled last year.
The workers chanted “we want the money right now” and marched in front of the corporation’s office, Centenary Street, Tunapuna. They bore placards that said: “Who give those corrupted contracts, after six months they can’t complete none”; “Doh feel ah how, we want we money now”; “If allyuh cyah run de corporation go and work Cepep or take VSEP”.
Workers shouted at the side of the road: “They eating ham, lamb and jam and in they big office and not studying nobody.” Another worker said: “Christmas coming and people have children to mind and things to buy.” The workers said the amount they were due to receive was noted on their last pay slip two weeks ago but the money was not included. In an interview outside the corporation’s office, Lambert said negotiations were settled in November 2013.
He added: “The purpose is in regard to how the arrears is being allocated in various corporations but there are others that did not receive any arrears and we are telling ourselves, as a union, that it is time to get their arrears.” Lambert said the money was allocated in the national budget and the money was already approved by the Ministry of Finance. He said Tunapuna was the largest corporation under local government with 1,000 workers.
Chairman of the corporation, Edwin Gooding, and CEO Loris Jones-Romany could not be reached for comment.