A Timeline on Recent Developments Between C.W.U. and P.B.L.
Oscar Requeña
But what’s the genesis of the trade dispute and wasn’t it previously settled by the Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal? For more context, from government’s perspective, Minister Requeña also outlined a sequence of events that culminated with the ESAT ruling on the issue in the first instance.
Oscar Requeña, Minister of Labor
“The reported dispute in the union‘s letter dated June 9th, 2023 is on the same basis as the dispute reported in 2021 which has already been determined by the tribunal. On June 20th, 2023, the ministry responded to the union indicating receipt of the union‘s letter dated June 9th, 2023 and advised that in accordance with section fourteen of the aforementioned act, the matter stated in the union‘s letter has been referred by the minister to the tribunal for a decision on any questions as to the interpretation of the award. On June 23rd, 2023, the tribunal was re-established before the expiration of the twenty-one days notice. In fact, I just want to update this honorable house that the first meeting of the tribunal was actually convened Wednesday, the twenty-eighth of this month. So the matter is being addressed, as I said the tribunal held its first meeting on June 28th, 2023 to deal with the exigency of the situation. The ministry would like to encourage all parties involved to continue to engage in constructive dialogue in order to resolve the matter in a peaceful manner. We are confident that the tribunal will provide a fair and impartial decision that will benefit all parties involved.”
