CWU Demands 10% For TSTT Workers, Calls For PM Intervention

The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) is maintaining its demand for a 10% wage increase for TSTT workers, insisting employees deserve to benefit from the company’s performance while calling on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to intervene in several matters concerning the telecommunications provider.

Speaking during a press conference, a union representative said the CWU would not accept proposals of 5% or 9%, arguing that workers contributed significantly to the company and deserve the full 10%.

The union also questioned how the 10% figure previously under discussion was determined and whether investigations were conducted into its origin.

According to the CWU, correspondence was sent to the company giving management three days to respond, but the union said it had not received a response at the time of the press conference.

The union representative stressed that the public statements were not intended to bully or intimidate the Prime Minister, but instead to encourage greater accountability and government involvement in resolving outstanding concerns at TSTT.

Several allegations surrounding the company’s management, spending and governance were also raised during the press conference. The union called on the Prime Minister to examine the issues and questioned how continued controversy surrounding TSTT could affect efforts to refinance the company and attract investors.

The CWU also raised Trade Dispute 056 of 2019, referring to a matter involving Clyde Elder and questioning whether the relevant decisions and obligations arising from the dispute had been properly addressed.

Questions were further raised about the departure of a former TSTT director. The union representative claimed the former director had submitted her resignation in February 2026 because of concerns surrounding developments within the company. These claims were presented by the union and have not been independently verified.

The union said it possesses documents which it believes support some of its allegations and warned that if sufficient action is not taken, the material could be provided to the Opposition and media organisations.

The CWU also challenged the Opposition to increase its scrutiny of TSTT and raise relevant questions in Parliament.

While stopping short of announcing industrial action, the union representative suggested that additional options could become available once restrictions associated with the State of Emergency are no longer in place.

Despite the increasingly tense dispute, the CWU maintained that employees remain committed to their jobs and to keeping TSTT viable and sustainable.

However, the union made it clear that its position on wages remains unchanged.

For the CWU, the figure is 10%, and it says it does not intend to waver from that demand.