Unions at war
PORT SPAIN
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Petroleumworldtt.com
06 17 09
Three weeks before a Labour Day march in a time of economic meltdown and massive job losses, the nation's most powerful unions are warring over claims of political favouritism and poaching of members.
The situation has developed after president of the Public Services Association, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, criticised the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) for allegedly trying to take some of her members who are employed in the Northwest Regional Health Authority.
Yesterday, at press briefing to tell of plans for Labour Day, president of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and Non-governmental Organisations (FITUN), David Abdulah, revealed the split.
He said, "The June 19 platform at Fyzabad will be exclusively FITUN."
Abdulah said, "Several efforts to have a unity meeting with officials of the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) have failed."
Speaking about other unions that are affiliated to NATUC, Abdulah said, "Some people play politics with union business and, in the case of NATUC, they are siding with the PNM."
Abdulah said NATUC is not about party politics. He said it was FITUN's plan to stand against the ills in the country and not about playing politics.
The annual Labour Day march in Fyzabad has often been preceded by division among unions, with opposing platforms and speeches given by leaders of many of the larger unions.
Abdulah said it was not true that members of the OWTU were trying to get employees at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex to join the OWTU.
"Our members were at the institution assisting its members in the fight for improved working conditions," he said.
An official of NATUC said yesterday, "Come Labour Day, the division in the labour movement is likely to see some unions celebrate the occasion in Port of Spain or refrain from taking part in this year's celebration, but we will be no part of the FITUN platform."
Story by Louis B Homer, South Bureau from Trinidad & Tobago
Express
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Thursday, June 4th 2009
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