00:00The acceptance of the SRC was just the icing on the cake, to be quite honest, because we
00:05have been going down a very dark and gloomy road as a country, as a people, for quite
00:09some time now.
00:10What is good for one is good for all, the sentiments expressed by the second vice president
00:15of the oilfields workers trade union, Risa Ramlugan-Judah.
00:20Speaking on behalf of TNTEC workers, she says it is disheartening that the workers are made
00:25to struggle for something as basic as a fair wage.
00:29TNTEC workers, this country cannot function without the work of the TNTEC workers.
00:36And that is, it seems to be just unnoticed.
00:40And we have had enough of that.
00:42She then provided an update on the wage negotiations.
00:45Well, we are stuck on 2014 salaries.
00:49For the period 15 to 17, the industrial court would have acknowledged in their judgment
00:54that the TNTEC workers are deserving of an increase, but it cannot be funded.
00:59So the court would have awarded zero, zero, zero for that period.
01:03And relative to 18 to 20, the negotiation started sometime in September last year.
01:09And to date, there has not been an offer from the company relative to cost items inclusive
01:15of salaries.
01:16The union is hoping to secure a 12% increase, which the OWTU believes is more than reasonable.
01:24A 12% increase is very reasonable, taking that into consideration, but also taking into
01:29consideration the fact that workers are stuck on 2014 salaries.
01:34So if you look at 12%, that is not a considerable increase, to be quite honest with you.
01:39And yes, it is reasonable, and the union would have been, the OWTU in particular, would have
01:44been very reasonable in that proposal, because as I said, quite a number of things would
01:48have been taken into consideration when that proposal was made.
01:53And while we would have 12% on the table, we are still open to negotiations.
01:59Ms. Ramlogan-Joda is hoping that Saturday's demonstration in front of Whitehall will remind
02:04the government where true power lies.
02:07We are the ones who have put you there, and we are the ones that can remove you if you
02:12don't do what is in the best interest of the people of this country.
02:16Aksha Galston, TV6 News.
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