President general of the Amalgamated Workers Union (AWU) Michael Prentice has met with Director of Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies (CCLCS) Dr. Andre Henry and his staff along with the chief executive officer of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation Annette Seaforth, to engage in discussions regarding the award of scholarships for academic training for its membership.
The meeting took place on September 14 at the CCLCS and followed the signing of the collective agreement between the union and Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) Daryl Dindial on August 29.
A statement from the union said as a result of discussions, parties identified the introduction of training programmes for workers of the bargaining unit.
The programmes will be available to hourly, daily and weekly rated workers of the Port- of- Spain Corporation from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2026.
At the Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies, training will run for one year in
Co-operative Studies, Human Resource Management, Labour Studies, Industrial Relations,
Security Administration and Management, Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental
Management, Emergency Management, and Project Management.
The statement said, "Moreover, a maximum of 12 workers are to be selected by management and the union on an annual basis. The Port- of- Spain Corporation will be responsible for the full cost of the training inclusive of registration fees. "
It said this training for members of the union was a direct outcome of the signed agreement with the CPO as the union understands that the work of trade unions has significantly advanced, therefore the skill set required to be effective in this current environment requires formal up- skilling and education, a goal the AWU is fully committed to.
Additionally, the union will be seeking meetings in the foreseeable future with the MIC Institute of Technology, where a maximum of six workers are to be selected collectively by MIC and AWU on an annual basis for technical and vocational training.
The programmes will contribute to building the knowledge and productivity of members and enable the Port- of- Spain Corporation to improve on its delivery of services to its burgesses, the statement said.