Prime
Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has been accused of violating a collective bargaining agreement signed seven months ago between the Government and the National Union of Government Employees of Trinidad and Tobago. The trade union’s claim has been endorsed by the Trinidad and Tobago National Trades Union Congress which denounced the unilateral action . of the Government in “abrogating the sanctity of the collective contract” despite assurances given by its representatives to the trade union and to the members of the House of Representatives. The reason for the dispute was the claim of the National Union of Government Employees for full payment of retroactive wages due to daily-paid government workers covered by the Joint Industrial Council. Despite all attempts by the National TUC to arrive at a satisfactory solution the Government decided to pay out on 18th December, 1964 only 60 per cent. of the amount in cash and to withhold the balance of 40 per cent. in lieu of bonds, against the wishes of the workers. . The Trinidad and Tobago National Trades Union Congress thereupon advised the union to repudiate the concession which had been made to the Government to forego the wage increases for 1965 and 1966 on condition that remaining wages were paid. It is also considering the possibility of taking legal action in pursuance of its claim for full payment to the workers, including a complaint to the International Labour Organisation against violation by the Government of ILO Convention No. 98 on the right to organise and bargain collectively.