Salary negotiations between the Transport and Industrial Workers Union (TIWU) and Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz are expected to resume over the weekend.
The delay comes after Cadiz indicated that while he agrees to a 12 percent salary increase for Public Service Transport Corporation (PTSC) bus drivers the decision can only be confirmed with the approval of Finance Minister Larry Howai.
So said TIWU’s vice president, Wendell Subiah, in an interview with the T&T Guardian earlier today.
The negotiations were put on hold last night following a five-hour meeting between TIWU, Cadiz, Public Service Transport Corporation (PTSC) management and Junior Finance Minister Rudy Indarsingh at the Radisson Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, yesterday evening.
“Minister Cadiz agreed to the 12 percent increase, but he has to take the decision to Minister Howai for approval,” Subiah said. “They will have to do further computations to check how much the increase will cost when backpay is added in.”
Subiah said he could not say when another meeting will take place but it is expected to held sometime over the weekend.
However, he said the current work-to-rule action being taken by drivers will continue until there is confirmation of the increase.
“The work-to-rule action will continue until further notice.”
Today marks four days since the drivers began their work-to-rule action after negotiations broke down between TIWU and PTSC management.
The industrial action crippled the nationwide bus service and left thousands of passengers scrambling for alternative means of transport.