The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) is calling for urgent consultations over the future of the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre after alleging that a Government minister disclosed to an employee that the hotel is “for sale.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the union said it had written to Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein seeking clarification on the reported disclosure but had, up to the time of the statement, received neither an acknowledgement nor a response.
The union also revealed that it met with Hilton management on Tuesday, during which it received documents that it says combined information relating to the hotel’s expired lease with what appeared to be a notice concerning employees’ future.
According to the CWU, the process does not amount to meaningful consultation as required under industrial relations principles. The union noted that there are now 45 days remaining until what it described as the final lease extension expires on September 16, 2026.
While acknowledging that management may be limited in what it can publicly disclose, the union said reports that the hotel is being offered for sale have heightened uncertainty among employees.
“The Hotel is ‘for sale’. Therefore, what has to occur is proper consultation and ways and means to mitigate against further fallout,” the union said.
The CWU stated that workers have differing views on their future, with some wishing to remain employed while others would prefer severance. It noted that many employees have mortgages, families and children to support, making timely discussions essential.
The union argued that repeated month-to-month lease extensions have intensified anxiety and uncertainty among staff, who continue to await definitive information about their employment.
Describing the Hilton as a landmark institution, the CWU warned that a closure could affect more than 300 workers and increase unemployment figures.
The union said it is prepared to engage with all stakeholders to explore options that would preserve jobs if a new owner assumes control of the property, while also negotiating fair severance arrangements for employees who choose to leave.
“CWU stands eager to cut to the chase, let us discuss avenues of continuity with the buyer and for those who wish to be severed let us talk,” Secretary General Joanne Ogeer said.
The union concluded by warning that continued silence surrounding the hotel’s future is taking a toll on employees, stating that “silence erodes hope as workers hold on to make ends meet.”
Neither the Government nor Hilton Trinidad had publicly responded to the union’s latest claims at the time of publication.
