A REPORT ON THE INDUSTRIAL

COURT JUDGMENTS:
JANUARY TO JULY 2015
PREPARED BY THE RESEARCH/LIBRARY DEPARTMENT

The Employers Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

17 Samaroo Road, Aranguez Roundabout North, Aranguez
 2015 INDUSTRIAL COURT JUDGMENTS

The Research/Library Department of the Employers Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ECA) has prepared a summary of the Industrial Court Judgments by subject
and ruling delivered in 2015. The Judgements are sorted by the main subject area and landmark judgements have been highlighted. This report contains judgments that have been
registered with the Industrial Court Library from January to July 2015. Note that not all the judgments that have been delivered are immediately registered with the Courts Library
and also that the 2014/2015 Law Term was closed on Friday 31st, July, 2015 and the 2015/2016 Law Term was opened on Wednesday 16th, September, 2015.

The Judgments mentioned in this report is available at ECAs Library. For further information please contact:

Ms. Keisha Paul, Senior Researcher

Telephone: 675-5873 Ext: 227
Email- kpaul@ecatt.org

Ms. Nillie Singh, Research/Library Officer

Telephone: 638-6463 Ext: 225
Email- nsingh@ecatt.org

Prepared on 14 October, 2015

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1. The number of Judgments delivered by month

The following number of judgments were delivered as follows:-

Month No. of Trade Disputes Delivered

January 6
February 5
March 5
April 10
May 5
June 9
July 12
August LAW TERM CLOSED
TOTAL 52

* Please note that these figures reflect the Judgments that are available at ECAs Library.

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2. Judgments by subject headings

Subject
Assault of worker
Bi-lateral negotiations for Collective Agreement
Breakdown in negotiations for Collective Agreement
No. of Trade Disputes In favour of the No. of Trade Disputes in favour of
Total No. of Trade Disputes Settled
Union/Employee the Employer
1 0 1
1 1 0
1 1 0

Contract employment 5 3 2
Dismissals 21 20 1
Gross misconduct 2 1 1
Job abandonment 4 1 3
Industrial action 1 0 1
Meal allowance 1 1 0
Member in good standing 1 0 1
Occupational Safety and Health (injury, death) 3 3 0
Overtime payment 1 1 0
Promotion/Demotion 2 0 2
Punctuality 1 0 1
Shift work 1 1 0
Suspension 3 3 0
Theft 1 0 1
Unilateral alteration of terms and conditions of employment 2 2 0

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KEY: TD -Trade Dispute; IRO - Industrial Relations Offence; ST - Special Tribunal; ESD - Essential Services Division; A - Application;
RSBD - Retrenchment and Severance Dispute; OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Complaint; C - Complaint.

i. Assault of worker

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE
TD 463 of 2010 The Amalgamated HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-01-30 Assault of worker - Case dismissed.
Media Sales Limited
Workers Union HH Mr G. Rousseau Dismissal

ii. Bi-lateral negotiations for Collective Agreements

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

TD 63 of 2012 Oilfield Workers Trade ANSA McAL Chemicals HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-07-14 Bi-lateral negotiations The court ordered that:-
(S) Union Limited HH Ms B. Mahabir Collective Agreement The Collective Agreement cover three years
HH Mr K. Jack and not five years, covering the period
January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013.
The items determined in the Trade Dispute
to be included in the Collective Agreement.
The provisions that were awarded in this
judgment together with those agreed in bi-
lateral negotiations, at conciliation at the
Ministry of Labour Small and Micro
Enterprise Development and recorded in
Memoranda of Agreement dated May 7,
2012, June 13, 2012 be incorporated into
the Collective Agreement.

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The executed Collective Agreement is to be

submitted for registration in accordance
with Section 44 of the Act no later than
August 31, 2015.

iii. Breakdown in negotiations for Collective Agreement

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

ESD TD 26 & 33 Communication Workers Telecommunications HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-05-29 Breakdown in Increase in salaries/wages and allowances are
of 2013 Union Services of Trinidad and HH Mrs J. Rajkumar- negotiations Collective to take effect from July 2, 2015.
Tobago Gualbance Agreement The provision as ordered to incorporated into
HH Mr K. Jack the Memoranda of Agreement to become the
Collective Agreements between the CWU &
TSTT for both the Junior and Senior Staff
Bargaining Units for the period January 1, 2008
to December 31, 2010, and duly executed and
submitted to the Minister of Labour in
accordance with the provisions of the IRA.

iv. Contract employment

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

TD 476 of 2011 Banking, Insurance and Alstons Building HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-02-20 Contract of employment Case dismissed.
General Workers Union Enterprises Limited HH Mr P. Rabathaly - Retrenchment
HH Dr S. Samaroo

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TD 227 of 2012 Communication Workers Mr. Cooper Permanent HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-05-20 Contract employment - Case dismissed.
Union Secretary Office of the HH Mr A. Aberdeen dismissal
Prime Minister HH Mr K. Jack
TD 441 of 2011 Banking, Insurance and The Sport Company of HH Mrs K. George- 2015-07-31 Contract employment $575,000 in damages was awarded to the
General Workers Union Trinidad and Tobago Marcelle Termination worker.
Limited (SPORTT) HH Mrs J. Christopher-
*Landmark Nicholls
Judgment HH Mr M. Maharaj
TD 62 of 2014 Communication Workers Varona Limited trading as HH Mr M. Daniel 2015-05-27 Contract employment - $40,000 in damages was awarded to the
Union Club de Vegas HH Mr. P. Rabathaly Termination worker in lieu of reinstatement or re-
HH Mrs K. George- employment.
Marcelle
TD 250 of 2012 Public Services The Housing Development HH Mrs K. George- 2015-06-18 Month to Month The court ordered the company to pay the
Association Corporation Marcelle Contracts/ Contract workers as follows:
*Landmark HH Mr A. Aberdeen employment - Bonair - $180,000
Judgment HH Mrs J. Christopher- Termination Pierre - $ 40,330
Nicholls Alleyne - $ 81,250
Springer - $121,250

v. Dismissals

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

TD 40 of 2013 Communication Workers Bhagwansinghs Hardware HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-01-20 Verbal dismissal $50,000 in damages was awarded to the
Union and Steel Industries HH Dr S. Samaroo worker.
Limited HH Mrs J. Christopher-
Nicholls
TD 580 of 2013 Banking, Insurance and Motor One Insurance HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-02-19 Summary dismissal $65,000 in damages was awarded to the
General Workers Union Company Limited HH Mr M. Daniel worker.
HH Mr N. Mohammed

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TD 83 of 2010 Oilfield Workers Trade Arthur Lok Jack Graduate HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-03-05 Constructive dismissal $75,000 in damages awarded to the worker.
Union School of Business, The HH Mr P. Rabathaly
University of the West HH Mr K. Jack
Indies
TD 542 of 2011 Government Industrial National Quarries HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-04-01 Constructive dismissal The Court recognized GIGWU as the Union to
and General Workers Company Limited HH Ms B. Mahabir represent the worker and the case was
Union HH Dr S. Samaroo adjourned to another date to be fixed.
TD 153 of 2010 Transport and Industrial Public Transport Service HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-04-02 Wrongful dismissal $40,000 in damages awarded to the worker.
Workers Union Corporation HH Ms B. Mahabir

TD 252 of 2010 Communication Workers Restaurant holdings HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-04-13 Wrongful Dismissal $45,000 in damages awarded to the worker.
Union Limited HH Ms B. Mahabir
HH Mr R. Linton

TD 328 of 2009 Banking, Insurance and CL Communications HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-04-15 Unfair dismissal $75,000 in damages was awarded to the
General Workers Union Limited HH Ms B. Mahabir worker.
HH Mr N. Khan

TD 90 of 2013 Oilfield Workers Trade Carib Asphalt Pavers HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-04-16 Dismissal $100,000 in damages was awarded to the
(S) Union Limited HH Mr N.A. worker to be paid in two equal payments of
Mohammed $100,000.
HH Mr M. Mitchell

GSD TD 371 & Communication Workers Neotech Protective Agency HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-04-20 Dismissal $40,000 in damages was awarded to the
372 of 2010 Union Limited HH Mr P. Rabathaly worker.
HH Mr N. Khan
HH Mr R. Jugmohan

TD 111 of 2010 Banking, Insurance and Telephone Workers Credit HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-04-23 Dismissal $175,000 in damages was awarded to the
General Workers Union Union Co-operative HH Ms B. Mahabir worker.
Society Limited HH Mr B. Dabideen

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TD 5 of 2011 Government Industrial Maxsal Drugs trading as HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-04-29 Dismissal $50,000 in damages was awarded to the
and General Workers Famitco Caribbean Limited HH Mr G. Rousseau worker.
Union
TD 54 of 2012 Transport and Industrial Public Transport Service HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-05-21 Wrongful dismissal $20,000 in damages awarded to each of the
Workers Union Corporation HH Mr. P. Rabathaly two workers.
HH DR S. Samaroo

TD 471 of 2013 Banking, Insurance and Tourism Development HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-05-22 Summary dismissal $270,000 in damages was awarded to the
General Workers Union Company Limited HH Mr A. Aberdeen worker.
HH Mrs K. George-
Marcelle
TD 570 of 2013 Transport and Industrial Sunspot Plastics Limited HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-06-03 Unfair dismissal The court ordered the payment of $90,000 to
Workers Union HH Mr K. Jack the worker in two equal payments of $45,000.
HH Mr N.A.
Mohammed
TD 236 of 2011 Communication Workers Trincity Millennium Vision HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-06-12 Dismissal $70,000 in damages was awarded to the
Union Limited HCL Group of HH Mr G. Rousseau worker.
Companies HH Mr M. Maharaj
TD 84 of 2013 Oilfield Workers Trade The University of Trinidad HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-06-18
Union and Tobago HH Mr. P. Rabathaly Constructive dismissal Case dismissed.
HH Mrs K. George-
Marcelle

ESD TD 14 of Banking, Insurance and Caribbean Airlines Limited HH Mr L. Achong 2015-06-22 Summary dismissal $220,000 in damages was awarded to the
2012 General Workers Union HH Mrs J. Rajkumar- worker.
Gualbance
TD 515 of 2013 Banking, Insurance and Ministry of Labour and HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-07-08 Dismissal The court ordered that application of the
General Workers Union Small and Micro Enterprise HH Mr K. Jack Ministry be dismissed and that the Ministry of
Development AND The HH Mr N.A. Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise
Chief Personnel Officer Mohammed Development remain as 1st Party No. 2 in this
dispute.

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TD 532 & 533 of Transport and Industrial Ansa Polymer Limited HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-07-30 Dismissal The Court ordered the payment of $100,000 in
2011 Workers Union HH Mr P. Rabathaly damages to Worker 1 and $45,000 in damages
HH Ms B. Mahabir to Worker 2.

TD 199 of 2013 Banking, Insurance and Island Club Casino Limited HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-07-30 Dismissal $120,000 in damages was awarded to the
General Workers Union HH Mrs J. Christopher- worker.
Nicholls
HH Mr J. Jugmohan
TD 125 of 2012 Banking, Insurance and Daily News Limited HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-07-09 Wrongful dismissal $75,000 in damages was awarded to the
General Workers Union HH Mr. P. Rabathaly worker.
HH Mr H. Jhinkoo

vi. Gross Misconduct

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

TD 202 of 2011 National Union of Clarke and Battoo Limited HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-03-02 Gross misconduct Case dismissed.
Government and HH Mr G. Rousseau Summary dismissal
Federated Workers HH Dr S. Samaroo
TD 158 of 2010 Transport and Industrial Public Transport Service HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-07-07 Gross misconduct $200,000 in damages was awarded to the
Workers Union Corporation HH Ms B. Mahabir Summary Dismissal worker.
HH Mr G. Rousseau

vii. Job abandonment

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

TD 144 of 2008 National Union of HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-01-30 $45,000 in damages was awarded to the
Job abandonment
Government and Pegasus Sales Agency HH Mr P. Rabathaly worker.
Dismissal
Federated Workers

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TD 169 of 2011 Communication Workers Servisair Trinidad and HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-02-11 Job abandonment Case dismissed.
Union Tobago Limited HH Mr K. Jack
TD 165 of 2011 Oilfield Workers Trade National Maintenance HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-03-31 Job abandonment - Case dismissed.
Union Training and Security HH Ms B. Mahabir Dismissal
Company Limited HH Mr N. Khan
TD 479 of 2011 Communication Workers Servisair Trinidad and HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-04-14 Job abandonment Case dismissed.
Union Tobago Limited HH Mr K. Jack
HH Dr S. Samaroo

viii. Industrial action

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

ESD 001 of 2014 Oilfield Workers Trade Trinidad and Tobago HH Mr L. Achong 2015-02-26 Industrial action - Case dismissed.
(S) Union Electricity Commission HH Mrs J. Rajkunar- Suspension
Gualbance
HH Mr K. Narinesingh

ix. Meal allowance

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

ST 16 of 2003 Public Services Chief Personnel Officer HH Mr L. Achong 2015-03-11 Meal allowance All outstanding meal allowances owed to
Association HH Mrs J. Rajkumar- Immigration Officers must be paid on or
Gualbance before June 30, 2015.

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HH Mr D. Rambally

x. Member in good standing

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

TD 34 of 2008 National Union of Yummys Bakery Limited HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-01-29 Good standing Case dismissed.
Domestic Workers

xi. Occupational Safety and Health (injury, death)

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

OSHA 003 of Occupational Safety and Green Dot Limited HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-03-25 Safety at work The company was ordered to pay a fine of
2012 Health Agency HH Mr G. Rousseau $100,000 to the worker.
HH Mr R. Linton Also, the company was ordered to pay a fine of
$20,000 for each breach of OSH Act.

OSHA 002 of Occupational Safety and The Water and Sewerage HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-07-30 Injury The court ordered the employer to pay the
2011 Health Authority Authority of Trinidad and HH Mr K. Jack following fines on or before 30th September,
Tobago HH Mr S. Samaroo 2015:-
1. Section 13 A (1) - a fine of $20,000
2. Section 13 A (3) - a fine of $18,000
3. Section 46 (1) (b) - a fine of $18,000
4. Section 47 (1) - a fine of $20,000
5. Section 49 (1) - a fine of $20,000

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6. Section 75 - a fine of $18,000

7. Section 6 (1) - a fine of $20,000
8. Section 6, 2(a) - a fine of $20,000
9. Section 6, 2(d) - a fine of $20,000
10. Section 86 (1) - a fine of an amount
equivalent to three years pay payable to
the employee.

OSHA 005 of Occupational Safety and Pres-T-Con limited HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-04-23 Injury - Death The court found that the company committed
2012 Health Agency HH Mr K. Jack safety and health offences arising from
HH Mr R Jugmohan breaches of sections 6(1), 6(2) (a), 6(2) (b), 6(2)
(d), 13 (1), 13 A(1) and 13 (2) of the OSH Act.
Accordingly, the court imposed fines of
$15,000 in respect of each of these offences.
Also, the company id to pay a fine of 75% of
the amount equivalent to three years pay of
the deceased worker for the benefit of his
children.

xii. Overtime payment

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE
ESD 36 of 2013 Oilfield Workers Trade Trinidad and Tobago HH Mr L. Schong 2015-07-31 Overtime payment The court ordered the Commission to pay to
Union Electricity Commission HH Mr P. Rabathaly the three workers who worked at the Marbella
HH Mr D. Rambally and Penal Service Centres any overtime owed
to them by calculating for each of them the
actual total hours worked for each month
between May 2007 and May 30, 2012 and
paying them the appropriate overtime rates as
per the subsisting Collective Agreement.

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xiii. Promotion/Demotion

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE

TD 452 of 2013 National Union of Chief Personnel Officer HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-01-08 Promotion/Demotion of
Government and HH Mrs J. Christopher- worker Case dismissed.
Federated Workers Nicholls
HH Mr M. Mitchell
ESD 14 of 2014 Communication Workers Telecommunications HH Mrs J. Rajkumar- 2015-07-31
Union Services of Trinidad and Gualbance Promotion Case dismissed.
Tobago HH Mr K. Narinesingh

xiv. Punctuality

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE
TD 155 of 2009 Transport and Industrial John Dickinson and HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-06-23 Attendance and $80,000 in damages was awarded to the
Workers Union Company (West Indies) HH Mr G. Rousseau punctuality - Dismissal worker.
Limited

xv. Shift work

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE
TD 325 of 2013 Oilfield Workers Trade Nestle Trinidad and HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-06-22 Shift work The court ordered the payment of $4,000 in
Union Tobago Limited HH Mr A. Aberdeen damages to be made to each of the 10 workers
HH Mr N. Khan in this case, at a rate of interest of 8%.

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xvi. Suspension

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE
TD 274 of 2007 Public Services Trinidad and Tobago HH Mrs H. Seale 2015-02-27 Suspension - Dismissal $65,000 in damages was awarded to the
Association Association for the HH Mr A. Aberdeen worker for her suspension, with interest at 6%
Hearing Impaired HH Mr H Jhinkoo per annum from the date the dispute was
referred to the court (December 10, 2007).

TD 323 of 2011 National Workers Trade Top Dcor Limited HH Mrs K. George- 2015-07-10 Suspension - Dismissal $20,000 in damages was awarded to the
Union Marcelle worker.
HH Mr K. Jack
HH Mrs J. Christopher-
Nicholls
TD 466 & 480 of National Union of Mountain Vie HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-06-18 Suspension - Dismissal The court Mrs. Yeates to pay the worker
2006 Domestic Employees Environmental Company HH Mr. P. Rabathaly $12,000 in damages. The sum is to be paid in
Limited / Mrs Evelyn C. HH Mr R. Linton four monthly installments of $3,000 each.
Yeates

xvii. Theft

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE
TD 135 of 2010 National Union of Amerijet International Inc. HH Mr H. Soverall 2015-07-09 Theft Dismissal Case dismissed.
Government and Caribbean Express Limited HH Mr K. Jack
Federated Workers HH DR S. Samaroo

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xviii. Unilateral alteration of terms and conditions of employment

TRADE DISPUTE PARTY NO. 1 PARTY NO. 2 CORAM DELIVERY ISSUES COURT RULING
NO. DATE
HH Mrs S. Ramparas 2015-01-08 The Court ordered that effective 1st January
HH Mr P. Rabathaly 2010, the worker be allocated 35 days vacation
Communication Workers Hilton Trinidad and HH Mrs J. Christopher- Unilateral alterations of leave per year and 42 days from the
TD 357 of 2012
Union Conference Centre Nicholls vacation leave anniversary date for the completion of 13
years service and continuing until the last day
of his employment.
TD 141 of 2010 Communication Workers Hilton Trinidad and HH Mrs K. George- 2015-06-29 Unilateral alteration of The court the employer to quantify and pay
Union Conference Centre Marcelle terms and conditions of the worker the following:-
HH Mr A. Aberdeen employment Arrears of COLA in keeping with the letter
HH Mrs J. Christopher- of August 24, 2006 from the date the
Nicholls payment was stopped to the date of the
judgment at a rate of interest of 6%; and
Arrears of Shift Bonus at the rates payable
to him in keeping with the letter of
August 24, 2006 from the date the
payment was stopped to the date of the
judgment at a rate of interest of 6%.
The court further ordered the employer to
continue the payment of COLA and Shift
Premium to the worker until the last day of
his employment.

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