Industrial Court Rules in Favor of CWU, Orders TSTT to Rescind Retrenchment and Pay $10,000 to Each Worker.
The Industrial Court has ruled in favor of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) over the 2018 retrenchment of 500 Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) workers. The court ordered the company to rescind the retrenchment notice and pay each worker $10,000. The ruling, issued on January 17th, 2024, stated the dismissals were “harsh and oppressive,” not aligning with good industrial relations practices. Additionally, the court directed TSTT to pay $100,000 in exemplary damages to former CWU secretary general Clyde Elder, whose treatment was deemed unjust. The court also mandated that any lost benefits during the absence period be compensated.TSTT must make the payments by February 28th, 2025.
