Pressure is mounting over the future of the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) warning that hundreds of workers face growing uncertainty ahead of a July 16 deadline tied to the hotel’s operational status. Photo: Roger Jacob

CWU secretary general Joanne Ogeer said the union has formally raised alarm after receiving communication from management indicating that the current government extension for the property will expire in mid-July, with no clear indication of what will follow. Ogeer said workers have endured years of shifting timelines and unanswered questions about promised renovations and the long-term future of the hotel, adding that up to 250 employees could be affected if operations are scaled back or closed.

She also questioned the status of previously allocated government funds for refurbishment and called for immediate transparency from both the State and management.

Ogeer said the union has “broken its silence” following an email from hotel management indicating that the final government extension for the property will expire on July 16. She said workers have faced more than a year of uncertainty, with unresolved questions dating back several years regarding the hotel’s renovation and future.

“What we are finding strange is this fraught of uncertainty for over a year,” she said, noting that discussions about the hotel’s future have been ongoing since 2020 under previous union leadership.

Acting CWU president Joel Mohammed said the situation goes beyond industrial relations, describing it as a direct threat to workers’ livelihoods.

“Trinidad and Tobago, this is not a call for wages or increases in negotiation,” Mohammed said. “This is a call for survivability of the workers at Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre.” He noted that many employees have worked at the hotel for 25 to 30 years on non-permanent arrangements, while a matter seeking permanency is already before the court. Mohammed said workers were only recently informed via email that the hotel’s future remains uncertain beyond July 16, following a series of short-term extensions—first one month, then three months, and now what is being described as a final extension.

“What is the plan for the workers?” he asked. “Why not have an open, genuine conversation with the organisation that represents the workers?” He criticised what he described as a lack of direct engagement between management and the union, saying repeated requests for meetings have gone unanswered or met with claims that there are “no further updates.”

“To date, we have not had any conversation, none whatsoever,” he said.

Mohammed added that the CWU has written to management on at least three occasions seeking urgent discussions but was told further engagement is “impractical at this time.”

The union also raised concerns about the future direction of the Hilton brand locally, noting that while there have been indications the brand may continue in some form, workers remain unclear about the structure or ownership model that may follow.

Mohammed questioned whether there is a disconnect between public statements and the situation faced by employees.

“You will see Hilton brands open and so on,” he said. “Do you think that is part of this, or is that something separate? Clearly something is happening in the background that is not being shared with the country.”

He also referenced recent public comments by the Prime Minister suggesting stability, contrasting them with the union’s account of internal uncertainty.

The CWU is now calling for urgent, transparent dialogue involving government, management, and the union to determine the property’s future and prevent potential large-scale job losses affecting hundreds of families.

Guardian Media attempted to contact Tourism Minister Satyakama Maharaj for comment, but calls went unanswered.