00:00A number of MTS workers, supported by the Transport and Industrial Workers Union, pounding
00:15the pavement on Friday morning during what they called a peaceful gathering opposite
00:19the Public Utilities Ministry in Sinclair.
00:26Their voices in unison, echoing discontent over their current wages, and Tiwu President
00:32Sean Roberts delivering a letter at the ministry addressed to Minister Marvin Gonzalez.
00:38Roberts says the union met with Gonzalez on April 9th to ask the ministry for a wage offer
00:44for the workers, who he tells us have been working on 2014 salaries.
00:49According to Tiwu, it is adversely affecting over 2,000 workers who are faced with the
00:54rising cost of living, apart from the impending property tax and higher electricity rates.
01:00This time the union has put forward a proposal for 25%, spanning three collective bargaining
01:06periods, split up into 10%, 10%, 5%.
01:11Roberts is adamant that any offer to MTS workers, like the one to public servants, will not
01:16cut it.
01:174% is not feasible, could never be, that is slavery.
01:23What is the lowest you're willing to settle for?
01:26Well, 10%, yeah, 10%.
01:34We're told the workers operate on a wage of $21.15 per hour, making around $1,600 fortnightly,
01:43excluding overtime.
01:44Another reason Tiwu states that 4% cannot work.
01:49That represents a figure of between 84 to 85 cents.
01:52That takes the worker now to $22 an hour.
01:57That also takes the worker to about $40 increase for the fortnight.
02:03That is upstate.
02:05Tiwu claims that state entities which are serviced through MTS owe the company an exorbitant bill.
02:11Close to $800 million, that is faxed, right?
02:15And while that is taking place, the workers are suffering.
02:18Tiwu says if a meeting isn't forthcoming with Gonzalez or a wage proposal isn't made, there
02:24will be stepped-up action.
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