00:00After months of uncertainty surrounding the future of workers at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre,
00:06the Communication Workers Union says it has received written guarantees from eTech on what the change in ownership means for
00:14employees.
00:15The union says the acquisition of Hilton International Trinidad Limited has been completed,
00:20with the company confirming that Hilton will continue to manage and operate the hotel under a new hotel management agreement.
00:28The CWU says the transaction will not result in workers losing their jobs or having their existing employment conditions reduced.
00:38In a statement issued this afternoon, Joanne Ogier, union secretary-general, said,
00:43For employees and or members, the position communicated by eTech is unequivocal.
00:49There is continuity of employment.
00:51Workers will continue working at the hotel with their existing salaries, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment unchanged,
01:00end quote.
01:01The union says workers will also retain their duties, work schedules, managers and reporting arrangements.
01:08It says, quote,
01:09The change is therefore principally at the ownership corporate level and according to eTech does not alter the hotel's day
01:16-to-day management or operations, end quote.
01:19The union says another key assurance is that workers will continue to be represented by the union.
01:26It says, quote,
01:27Of equal importance, eTech has expressly confirmed that existing collective bargaining, union representation and industrial relations arrangements remain in place,
01:37end quote.
01:37The union says eTech has also committed to constructive engagement with the CWU and to meeting its collective bargaining and
01:46industrial relations obligations.
01:48For workers, the union says the written assurances provide clarity on their jobs, continuity of service, salaries and benefits, as
01:57well as the continued presence of Hilton as hotel manager.
02:01But the CWU says, quote,
02:04The CWU will remain vigilant in protecting the rights and interests of every worker and ensuring that the commitments now
02:11placed formally on record are honored in both word and practice, end quote.
02:17The union says it and its members will continue supporting the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Center as the hotel moves
02:24into a new phase under its changed ownership structure.
02:31The CWU says, quote,
02:33The CWU says, quote,
02:33The CWU says, quote,
