The T A Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) Council has provided the Grenadian public with a comprehensive update regarding its ongoing negotiations with the Grenada Public Workers’ Union (GPWU), marking a significant development in the institution’s labor relations history.
Upon assuming leadership in August 2022, the current council inherited substantially strained industrial relations at the college. Demonstrating decisive action, the new administration successfully restored stability by resolving outstanding disputes and implementing salary increases totaling over EC$12.3 million for all TAMCC employees, covering the period from 2017 to 2024.
In a groundbreaking move toward sustainable labor harmony, the council initiated negotiations for institution-specific Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), diverging from previous practices that extended broader public sector agreements to the college. This strategic shift represents the first instance where TAMCC will establish tailored agreements addressing its unique operational requirements.
After months of intensive negotiations, the TAMCC Negotiating Team developed comprehensive CBAs for 2025 and 2026-2028, which received council approval before submission to Cabinet for final consideration. The Cabinet has subsequently called for additional dialogue between TAMCC and the unions, expressing particular concerns regarding specific agreement components that require resolution before finalization.
The negotiation process encountered increased tension when GPWU issued a November 26, 2025 communication demanding formal CBA signing by December 3 and insisting on specific December deadlines for retroactive salary payments and increases. The council responded by reminding the union of its president’s prior written agreement (dated September 10, 2025) to a structured three-phase approval process involving sequential endorsement by the Negotiating Team, TAMCC Council, and Cabinet before formal ratification.
Documentary evidence confirms that GPWU President Daisy Hazzard and TAMCC Negotiating Team Chair Learrie Barry jointly acknowledged completion of negotiations and committed to the established approval protocol. Despite current tensions, the council maintains a conciliatory posture, proposing new meeting dates with GPWU and emphasizing the necessity of compromise to achieve mutually acceptable resolutions.
Through an open letter from the Council Chair, TAMCC has maintained transparency with its employees regarding the negotiation status, reaffirming institutional commitment to resolving matters in the best interests of both the college and the nation.