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Peter Burke, executive vice-president of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU), the union which represents TTEC workers, said there has been an increase in the number of contractors hired by the commission.

“There is an upsurge in the procurement of leases geared at getting contractors to do the work that workers normally do. They are seeing their jobs going away in the pay packets of contractors,” said Burke.

He said the contractors are being payed as much as four times more than regular workers, especially in the distribution division.

“Regular workers do the same job, and on many occasions these jobs are performed with less quality and efficiency by the contracted labour,” said Burke.

The workers also claim pensioners of the commission have been short-paid.

“The pensioners have been short-paid on their back payments. There are also inconsistences in how they are being paid,” said Burke.

He said the methodology which is used to determine the pension payments is not what was agreed on in meeting the union held with TTEC in April 2010.

Annabelle Brasnell, TTEC communications manager, told Newsday yesterday the commission issues contracts in accordance with its approved rules.

“Contracts are being currently issued under the authority of the general manager, who was appointed by the previous board,” said Brasnell. She said other contracts, which require board approval, are sent to the Minister of Public Utilities, Emmanuel George, under whose portfolio the commission falls, since a board has not been in place as yet.

Brasnell said the commission had been in dialogue with the union last week regarding the methodology which was used in the pension payments.

“They had requested from the commission a sample methodology. We gave them it but they were not pleased,” said Brasnell. She the commission and the union is scheduled to meet next week.