Senior Reporter
otto.carrington@cnc3.co.tt
The Labour Movement has declared that it will not be intimidated by the Government. Unions came together yesterday during a press briefing at the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) head office in Port-of-Spain to reinforce their stance.
They announced plans to host a candlelight vigil next Tuesday, focusing on workers from the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC), TTPOST, and the Port Authority.
Organised by the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) and the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC), the vigil seeks to demonstrate solidarity amidst the government’s legal challenge against recent industrial action. JTUM president Ancel Roget said, “They don’t want protests in this country. The enemy—yes, I call them the enemy—because anyone who doesn’t want me and the workers to eat is my enemy. They don’t want protest action, but what they will get is protest action after protest action after protest action.”
He added, “The workers of TTEC, the comrades on the port, the port workers, postal workers, PTSC workers, MTS workers, NP workers, University of the West Indies workers, and sanitation workers—we’re ready. We’re ready to hit the streets. Next week, Tuesday, after work, and for those who are off, it starts at the port. We can’t say where it will end, but we know where it begins.”
Roget said the protest will start next Tuesday at the port, “with the port workers being joined by TTEC workers and postal workers.” There will be a candlelight vigil at the port, which will move straight to TTEC’s head office, he said.
Adding that it is just the beginning. “We don’t know how long the candles will burn, but we’ll be there, standing strong.”
The unions plan to use the event to spotlight key grievances, including job security, wages, and working conditions, while calling for urgent resolution to ongoing disputes.
Roget condemned the Government for bringing the Salaries Review Commission report to the Parliament. He described it as a slap in the face for workers as the Government is offering four per cent to workers while they are getting over 46 per cent.
“In the face of all of this, these shameless individuals have no issue bringing a report to Parliament—not once, but twice—to increase this man’s salary from $59,000 to $87,000. Shameless! Well, we want a 47 per cent increase too. Yes, we want millions of dollars in back pay as well. And you know why? Because they don’t do the real work—we do. It’s the workers on the port, the cleaners, the tech workers, the water workers, the MTS workers, the postal workers—we are the ones who truly work,” he said.
The JTUM president said, “We deserve our back pay. Don’t sell yourselves short. We are entitled to back pay in the millions because we’ve earned it. Not them.”
NATUC General Secretary Michael Annisette, upset that the Seamen and Waterfront Trade Union was taken to the Industrial Court over the port matter, said, “So, Mr Imbert and this minister—what’s his name again? Mr Sinanan, who might not even remember his own name—are out there beating their chests, declaring victory. Victory for the people, for the business community, and for our dock workers, as if we’re foolish. But let me tell you something, Mr Sinanan, time is longer than twine, and there are many ex-ministers who’ve learned that lesson.”
Annisette said, “On the port, we have a saying: “You want peace, but we’ll bury the hatchet and mark the spot.” That way, when the war starts, we know exactly where to find it. And I’ll tell you, Honourable Minister, we’ve already marked the spot. Time will tell. If you don’t respect the workers and fail to recognise that we are big men and women deserving of dignity, you’ll learn there’s always a price to pay for disrespecting dock workers or any member of the working class. That time is coming, and it’s coming soon.”
Annisette said, the time has come for the trade union movement and the working class to rally together in unity and defend one another.
