Union bids TSTT CEO ‘farewell’ with picket

Unionised employees of the Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) yesterday marched in Port-of-Spain bidding farewell in song to outgoing Chief Executive Officer Roberto Peon. They gathered outside TSTT’s head office at Edward Street and marched carrying placards reading “Settle Medical from Now,” “Settle Outstanding Negotiations Now,” “TSTT Crash -landed with Peon” and “TSTT Retirees Hit a Snagg.”

President of the Communication Workers’ Union, Joseph Remy, said the company realised approximately $91 million profit over the period April 2011 to March 31, 2012 and could afford to meet workers’ demands. “On Monday we were advised that the company met and awarded bonuses from $60,000 to $100,000 to executive management.

Secondly, the company continues to violate provisions of the collective agreement,” he said. Remy said there has also been a failure to honour a premium structure for the TSTT medical plan for retirees under Peon’s watch: “We believe it is fitting for us to come here on the eve of Peon’s departure. We are so happy that we want to be part of this celebration. He has done absolutely nothing positive for this company and we have lost the competitive advantage to Digicel and to Flow.

“We are sending a signal to the board that they should sit carefully with us and allow us to determine how the company is run,” he said.   Remy said the union would like the company to be in the hands of competent local people. Peon assumed his role on January 3, 2007 and is from Mexico while his predecessor Carlos Espinal was a Honduras national.

“We would like foreigners to participate in our economy. But, don’t disrespect us,” he said. Remy also complained that the union received a document describing Diane DeSouza as the new CEO of TSTT. “That has to be a mistake because we have been told that interviews have to be conducted. It shows us that somebody in the government or somewhere is recognising that Ms DeSouza is CEO. Something has to be flawed with that,” he said.