Ispat collective talks at impasse

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Negotiations for a new collective agreement between the IMF-affiliated Steelworkers’ Union of Trinidad and Tobago (SWUTT) and Caribbean Ispat Limited, a subsidiary of Ispat International Group, the world’s 8th largest steelmaker, have reached a stalemate after a long series of meetings. The contract is to cover the period November 1, 2001, to October 31, 2004. Among the unresolved items, the management of Caribbean Ispat Limited has proposed:

• a 9% wage increase for the 3 years 2001 – 2004;
• cuts in sick leave and vacation leave;
• the introduction of random drug testing;
• changes to the selection, employment and promotion policy;
• low increases in cost items such as meal allowance, travelling and shift premiums;
• very little or nothing for cost-of-living allowance.

The union’s demands include:

• a 12% wage increase over the 3-year period;
• enhanced/consolidated cost-of-living allowance;
• enhanced medical plan and improved medical benefits for retirees;
• improved pension benefits;
• paternity leave;
• computer loans;
• training and retraining;
• vacation loans.

The president of the union, Grafton Woodley, has put the membership on alert, not ruling out the possibility of strike action. SWUTT is the recognised majority union for both weekly- and monthly-paid workers at Caribbean Ispat Limited.