Unions
to
Govt:
Settle
before
election
By Anna-Lisa Paul
Trinidad Express
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
09 23 07
Urging
Government to remember that "workers
are voters", the trade union movement yesterday
sounded a warning to Government to settle all outstanding
wage negotiations by October 12.
Issuing the advice as he addressed hundreds of
union members who participated in a march through
the streets of Port of Spain, which culminated
in a rally at the Brian Lara Promenade, president
general of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU),
Errol McLeod, declined to say what exactly would
happen if this was not done.
When pushed to answer what would be the outcome,
McLeod would only say that a decision would be
taken as to the next step, and people would be
advised accordingly, via their respective unions.
Proclaiming
a major victory in sending a clear message to
Government that workers were no longer "willing
to accept whatever the CPO (Chief Personnel Officer)
threw their way", the usually fired up union
leader was noticeably tamer, but no less vehement
in his convictions to ensure that workers received
their just dues.
Making
a special appeal to warring factions of the labour
movement to join together with the unions
who supported yesterday's march, McLeod said "the
time is now" for all unions to join in solidarity
to fight for the rights of workers.
Leading
off the march from the Queen's Park Savannah,
in the vicinity of Memorial Park, around 10 a.m.
yesterday, McLeod and several union leaders led
the procession past the Academy for the Performing
Arts building which is currently under construction,
chanting "all Chinese must go home".
Referring
to the Chinese workers that Government is employing
to construct a number of offices and
the recently completed prime minister's residence,
David Abdulah, president of the Federation of Independent
Trade Unions (FITUN), said these workers were "cheap
labour" preventing locals from being hired
to do the same work.
Attracting
the attention and support of pedestrians and
motorists alike, the marchers continued in
a peaceful manner under the watchful eyes of police
officers, as they made their way to the Twin Towers
on Independence Square, and the office "where
the controller of the purse-strings reside".
Participating unions in yesterday's march included
the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association
(TTUTA), Communication Workers Union (CWU), Transport
and Industrial Workers Union (TIWU), Estate Police
Association (EPA), Oilfield Workers Trade Union
(OWTU), Public Services Association (PSA), Fire
Services Association (FSA), Banking and Insurance
General Workers Trade Union (BIGWU), Prison Services
Association, Wallerfield Food Crop Farmers Association,
and the Medical Professionals Association of Trinidad
and Tobago.
Trinidad
Express
Saturday, September 22nd 2007
Copyright
©2007 Trinidad
Express . All Rights Reserved.
