The Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union (ATGWTU) have signed a collective agreement for employees at the Mora Valley Farm, for the periods 2014 to 2016 and 2017 to 2019.
A release from the CPO’s Office confirms that the union accepted the 4% salary offer and signed off on the Report, on December 13, 2023.
Chief Personnel Officer, Commander Dr Daryl Dindial, noted the occasion was historic, as this was the first-ever Collective Agreement between the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union and the Office of the Chief Personnel Officer, on behalf of the employees of the Mora Valley Farm.
“The salaries paid to the employees at Mora Valley Farm were lower in comparison to those of the comparator positions in the market, which compelled the State to consider Market Survey Information to adjust salaries for the employees for the period prior to 2014,” Commander Dindial explained.
He acknowledged the support and decisiveness of the Minister of Finance in treating with the appropriate adjustments prior to 2014.
In the agreement, the Mora Valley Farm employees received several new allowances to address their working conditions. Other benefits include the introduction of Grievance Procedure; Protective Clothing and Gear agreed upon based on the Union’s request and industry standard; the introduction of Leave for Union Business; Provisions for Injury on the Job, Leave of Absence from Duty on the Grounds of Illness, and a Duty Allowance for extra hours worked on the Farm.
“ATGWTU, led by Mr. Nirvan Maharaj, is perhaps one of the most persistent and meticulous Unions I has engaged with, thus far,” Commander Dindial observed. “The passion, expertise and patience they exhibited, demonstrated that Industrial Relations was very much a part of their DNA.”
The Chief Personnel Officer also confirmed that most Unions and Associations have accepted the 4% offer.
He appealed to the other Unions/Associations who have not yet accepted the offer, to do so.
