CWU secures 11% wage hike for Hilton workers

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The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) has secured an eleven per cent wage increase for workers at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, concluding two long-outstanding collective bargaining periods dating back to 2019 with the company.

CWU Secretary General Joanne Ogeer confirmed the agreement following bilateral talks with Hilton management yesterday, describing the process as lengthy but ultimately productive.

She said the period covered June 2022-May 2025 and June 2019-May 2022.

Ogeer noted that early in the talks, Hilton appeared firm in its position.

“At first, the company seemed to be playing hardball. Nonetheless, the union has been very clear, and we have articulated the position at best. The hotel, although being under renovation, soon to be renovated, I should say — they are poised for profitability. They have continued to make profits and that has been shown on the books,” she said.

“We have remained steadfast in all articulations and today we have signed off on an 11% wage increase, and we signed off on both collective agreements for the period,” she confirmed.

The union also agreed to resolve two long-standing issues. However, she stressed that one major concern is now being prioritised: permanent employment at the hotel.

“The last person that was made permanent in Hilton was about 25 years ago. That is something that the union will be clamouring for in the very near future after signing off these collective agreements,” she said, adding negotiations for the next period are expected to begin as early as next week.

Ogeer, however, declined to disclose when workers will receive retroactive payments.

“For safety reasons, again, it will be very irresponsible of us to disclose when these workers would be entitled to retroactive payments and we would prefer to keep that out of the public domain at this point in time,” she noted.

With public sector workers recently receiving a ten per cent package negotiated between the Public Services’ Association and the Chief Personnel Officer, Ogeer was asked whether the CWU’s eleven per cent now sets a new bargaining benchmark.

She rejected the suggestion, saying, “Well, the companies that we represent, we have always started high because that is what collective bargaining is about. We start high and we come down. Ten per cent is the popular figure on the table right now. To say it will start a set precedent, I wouldn’t like to say that” she said.

“The union and the executive will try our very best to ensure and negotiate for what is the best for our workers.”

The CWU is now turning its focus to TSTT negotiations and Ogeer made her position clear.

“Meaning TSTT, the last time we settled negotiations, we settled for five per cent over a six-year period. It is not any way unfair, no, for us to even ask for nine per cent or 10 per cent,” she said.

She added that TSTT’s financial performance justifies a strong position.

“As a matter of fact, if the company is serious, as they seem to be now, as we are having talks and genuine, I believe that settling at nine per cent or 10 per cent is more than reasonable,” Ogeer said.

“So, I wouldn’t want to say that it’s steadfast that I would want to stay at 10 per cent because we have just settled at 11 per cent at Hilton. But TSTT is more profitable than the Hilton. TSTT is not a company that has been shouting or stating that they have been making considerable losses.”

She referenced assurances from TSTT’s acting CEO Keino Cox.

“I’ve heard from the new acting CEO, Mr Keino Cox, that there will be very good profit margins, if I should say so, in the near future, as in the early future. So, I will be engaging the company. We are soon to resume negotiations, and we will not be settling for anything less than 10%.”