Gail Alexander
The Government has not “unilaterally changed” the period of collective bargaining agreements, Finance Minister Colm Imbert says, pointing to the Industrial Relations Act.
Imbert did so in Parliament yesterday in response to an Opposition query.
A question filed by Rudy Indarsingh had sought reasons, given serious concerns which the United National Congress said were expressed by several trade union leaderships, that Government had “unilaterally altered the collective bargaining periods without discussion or consultation.”
Imbert said the query was based on a false premise.
He added, “The Industrial Relations Act Chap 88 01 (Section 41-1) indicates that a collective agreement shall be for a minimum period of three years and can be for a maximum period of five years. So therefore, there is no ‘unilateral change’ to anything. This is entirely within the law.”
Imbert also said, “And I wish to make it clear, as I did in the other place (Senate), I don’t intend to negotiate collective agreements in public — certainly not with the Opposition — and what has been published in the public domain is simply a counteroffer from the Government in response to a request from the trade unions. There is no unilateral anything.”
