REDUNDANCIES 2021

Caribbean Airlines - 2021 Redundancies

CATTU has written to CAL asking for information on any proposed redundancies and CAL has agreed to respond to the Union. CATTU has also had a meeting with TTALPA, the other recognised union, to discuss areas of common interest. We have agreed that it is important for both unions to have an appreciation of the rational and scope of the proposed redundancies.

Once we have information from CAL, we will be able to assess the situation more accurately.

If there are retrenchments, we have already indicated to CAL that we want details of their approach to selection criteria. CATTU will be putting forward a position that is applicable to all CAL workers (apart from those in TTALPA) irrespective of whether they are in bargaining units 97 and 98.

We will be updating this page regularly. You can also keep in touch by:

joining the Aviation Workers Group for regular emails (write to aviation@workersunion.org.tt to ask to go onto the list)
checking out our Facebook page.

21.07.08 - Media Release: CATTU says: "Saving Jobs Our Priority"

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

8th July 2021

CATTU SAYS; “SAVING JOBS OUR PRIORITY”

The Communications, Transport and General Workers Union (CATTU), one of the two recognised trade unions in Caribbean Airlines, is to meet the company today to discuss their restructuring proposals which put at risk an estimated 25% of the workforce.

Dave Smith, CATTU’s General Secretary, said:

“Saving jobs and job security is our priority. The information so far provided to the Union by Caribbean Airlines highlights the short term damage done by Covid 19 but is short on information on their longer term thinking. This is the national airline and it is important that the short term disruption caused by the Covid pandemic is not an excuse for major job cuts rather than develop a longer term strategy that provides job security for the airline's hardworking and highly skilled workers.”

On the question of Union recognition, Mr. Smith explained:

“When BWIA closed in December 2006, CATTU was the only one of the former BWIA Unions to apply to the Industrial Court for continued recognition. In the face of consistent resistance from Caribbean Airlines, it took until 2017 before the Court was able to make a determination in favour of CATTU. Even though the airline has continued its opposition to the workers having union recognition by Appealing the Industrial Court judgment, this does not deny CATTU recognition as there is no stay of execution pending the outcome of the appeal.”

The Union will issue a further statement after the meeting with Caribbean Airlines which is scheduled to take place at 10 am on Thursday 8th July 2021.

END

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dave Smith (CATTU General Secretary) – Cell: 683-5305

Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act - Summary

A redundancy situation arises when there is "surplus labour" in an organisation. If you are dismissed because of a redundancy situation you have been "retrenched".

There is a legal requirement for an employer to consult with its recognised unions and provide certain basic information about the proposed redundancies.

The minimum severance benefit provided for retrenched workers under this legislation is:

between one (1) and four (4) years continuous employment: half a months basic salary (or two weeks) for each year
for five (5) years or more continuous employment: three quarters of basic salary (or three weeks) for each year.

If there is a Collective Agreement which is superior to the law, that will prevail.

There is nothing to stop an employer, either unilaterally or following negotiations with a recognised union, agreeing arrangements better that the minimum set out in law. These are sometimes referred to as VSEP Agreements.

Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act - the Act

Go here for a copy of the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act

Copy of Know Your Rights - Redundancy.pdf

Redundancies

This useful flyer produced by the National Workers Union give broad information about redundancies and retrenchment.

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