UAWU awaits C&W response

The University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) said it is still to receive a response from telecommunications company Cable and Wireless since it served a three-day ultimatum on the company yesterday.



The UAWU is seeking to get the company to make retroactive payments to former employees whose positions were made redundant in April.



Third vice president at the UAWU, Garfied Harvey, said the workers were informed of the company’s intention to make their positions redundant in March.



Mr. Harvey said at the time of the exercise, the union was involved in salary negotiations for the new wage agreement for April 2007 to March 2009.



He said all the workers whose positions were made redundant after April 1 are eligible for retroactive payments, as well as severance payments to be calculated at the new salary rates.



Mr. Harvey said the union has been informed that Cable and Wireless has been withholding the payments.



Mr. Harvey said failure by the company to comply with the union’s demand would result in industrial action.