SIC Labour Talks Stalled Again

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Business News

Monday, 13 June 2011 08:18

By Alex Holder

Antigua St John's - Labour negotiations at the State Insurance Corporation (SIC) have once again been derailed. Reports reaching Caribarena.com suggested that the Corporation's management has sought the interjection of the Industrial Court after a recommendation from the labour commissioner about employee salary increases.

The commissioner had suggested an 11 percent salary increase for sundry workers over a three-year period - in a five, four, then two percent breakdown.

“In my opinion, what is happening at State Insurance Corporation is not isolated," said AT&LU Shop Steward Dave Joseph. "A majority of employers in this country take care of themselves first, and then the staff have to fight and fight and fight for their entitlements.”

The matter between the SIC and the AT&LU was filed in the Industrial Court on June 10.

“It is quite interesting that State Insurance Corporation did not see the need to send the matter to the Industrial Court until we accepted the labour

commissioner's recommendation as per salary increase," Joseph said. "I just find it laughable."

The shop steward, who represents the interests of the AT&LU and the SIC’s sundry workers, expects that the matter now before the Industrial Court will not only be a protracted one, but could also be very costly.

“Years ago, employers told workers they would starve them into submission," he noted. "Maybe State Insurance Corporation believes they could run up expenses on us, thus getting their way and taking away our rights and benefits that have been fought for tooth and nail by the elders who went before us."

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