INDUSTRIAL COURT PRESIDENT SACKED OVER 9 % FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS?

DEBORAH Thomas-Felix may have lost her job as President of the Industrial Court over the salary deal for public officers.

The respected Ms. Thomas-Felix was recently replaced, becoming the first eligible Industrial Court President not to be reappointed.

The Court, under Ms. Thomas-Felix, presided over the trade dispute involving the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and five trade unions for a new collective agreement.

The matter was referred to the Court by the CPO, acting on instructions from Minister of Finance Colm Imbert.

The unions were stunned by the move and, instead, clamoured for conciliation with the CPO.

According to sources, the Court favoured a nine per cent salary increase, rejecting the four per cent Government offer.

A well-placed operative with links to the Government is reported to have surreptitiously passed relevant details to a senior official of the administration.

With Ms. Thomas-Felix’s employment contract coming up for renewal, the Government declined to back the incumbent.

Reports are that the matter of the Court’s presidency was discussed by Cabinet, which took the stunning decision to replace the office-holder.

President Christine Kangaloo later named Heather Seale to succeed Ms. Thomas-Felix.

The outgoing President was reportedly blindsided to receive an official call stating that she would not be reappointed.

Trade unions were also shocked and saw it as a blow to the working class.

Prominent trade unionist Ancel Roget expressed concerns about a “return to those dark days when working people had no confidence in the Industrial Court to dispense fairness, equity and justice.”

The unions involved in the pay negotiations were those representing teachers, police, fire and prisons officers, and the Public Services Association (PSA).

Every union except PSA has accepted the Government’s four per cent offer.

The salary hikes date back to 2014, which means that they have been outpaced by inflation, which has galloped over the past decade.

Thousands of workers are saddled with the four per cent settlement.

Through her tenure, Ms. Thomas-Felix was seen as being fair to workers, and this irked some employers.

The influential Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce issued periodic strong criticisms of the Court.

In 2019, a Chamber official said the Court was to blame for decreasing national productivity.

The business body said Court decisions were “arbitrary, unfair and irrational.”

Ms. Thomas-Felix later stressed that the Court is fair in its judgments and does not favour workers.

She said that critics did not understanding the workings of the Court.

Certain senior business executives are close to the Government of Dr. Keith Rowley, with some being considered financiers of the ruling People’s National Movement.

People in the know are expressing concerns about the machinations that led to the removal of Ms. Thomas-Felix, who has extensive experience as a judicial officer and court administrator.

There are fears that the Court is being politically undermined and that workers are the victims.

It is not known whether Ms. Thomas-Felix would appeal her non-reappointment but she has become the first head of the Court not to retire in office.

A Fulbright scholar, she was appointed Court President in December 2011.