"We want we money right now! All we money right now! These were some of the chants from members of the T&T Postal Workers Union (TTPWU) when they marched outside the Eric Williams Financial Complex, Port-of-Spain, on Tuesday. General secretary of the union Reginald Critchlow said the TTPWU had long been waiting for an offer to allow them to negotiate with the management of TTPost concerning increased wages.
On October 22, the workers picketed outside the office of the Chief Personnel Officer Stephanie Lewis, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, accusing her of procrastinating in giving directions to the management of TTPost to allow for negotiations. Critchlow said Tuesday's protest which began at 10 am was proof that the workers were upset that no offers had been made to negotiate for salary increases.
He added: "We are extremely disappointed and the workers are showing their disagreement and disappointment with regard to that. "That's why we are here this morning and we are going to continue and take it further if we receive no response from the powers that be."
The postal workers hope to get the attention of those at the Ministry of Finance which is in the Eric Williams Financial Complex. Dressed in their purple T&T Postal Workers Union jerseys, the disgruntled workers pounded the pavement holding placards and chanting: "No Kamla again, all of them is the same."
Asked the reason for the criticism of the PM, Critchlow said: "We are facing a situation where the powers that be do not give the kind of recognition or importance to the workforce. Everybody wants profit and development but nothing of that sort can happen without work.?
"The workers need to be compensated. Governments come and governments go and we see the same thing. The workers are not addressed properly." Critchlow said negotiations concerning non-cost items were completed in August and members of the union had warned management not to allow a lull to occur in salary increase negotiations.