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NWU SUPPORTS PORT AND CEMENT WORKERS
by Gerry Kangalee
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NORRIS DEONARINE HONOURED
by Gerry Kangalee [ updated 14 Nov 2011 17:59 ]
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Natuc cossabo endorses hunger marchWelcome
NATUC STIRS
by Gerry Kangalee [ updated 18 Dec 2010 18:25 ]There was much talk by president of the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC), Michael Anisette, of a sleeping giant (NATUC) having awakened as the labour federation’s hastily-organised demonstration wended its way through the streets of Port of Spain from its Memorial Park starting point on Friday 17th December. Anisette harangued the workers for the duration of the demonstration from atop a music truck and in turn threatened and pleaded with the government to pay decent wages to public sector workers. In between the threats and pleas, he expressed disappointment and scorn for the leaders of unions that did not take part in the demonstration and proclaimed that NATUC was the labour movement. The four hundred or so workers who answered the call to demonstrate against the government’s five percent offer to public sector workers, including daily paid workers employed with Central and local government sported jerseys of several unions affiliated to NATUC. Prominent among them were Contractors and General Workers’ Union, Amalgamated Workers’ Union, Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU), Postal Workers’ Union, Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Union, National Union of Government and Federated Workers’ Union NUGFW). President of the Public Services Association, Watson Duke marched alongside President of the Steel Workers Union, Lex Lovell. Participating in the march were Comrades Gerry Kangalee and Dave Smith of the National Workers Union. The march ended at the Brian Lara Promenade. Leaders addressed the workers and urged them to keep up the struggle. Watson Duke informed the crowd that the Public Services Association would hold a demonstration on January 4th 2011 and urged them to participate. President of NUGFW, James Lambert, mystifyingly dubbed the demo one for efficiency and productivity and Comrade Roland Sutherland of TIWU reminded the workers that capitalists all over the world were trying to force the workers to pay for the crisis that the capitalists themselves had created...more |
TIWU PRESIDENT’S INSTALLATION ADDRESS by Gerry Kangalee
NEW TIWU EXECUTIVE
NEW TIWU EXECUTIVE INSTALLED Sutherland Urges McLeod To Lift PTSC Injunction On July 9th the installation of executive officers of the Transport and Industrial Workers' Union (TIWU) took place at TIWU Headquarters in Laventille.TIWU conducted nominations for executive officers on 27th May 2010. Those nominated were unopposed. The new term runs from 2010 to 2014. The installation exercise was conducted by former TIWU president, Comrade Clive Nunez. The feature address was given by legal adviser Clyde Weatherhead. Proceedings were chaired by National Education Officer of the National Workers' Union (NWU) Comrade Gerry Kangalee. Comrade Roland Sutherland delivered a powerful presidential address in which he called on the Mnister of Labour to lift the injunction against PublicTransport Service Corporation workers taking protest action. The Executive is made up as follows: Roland Sutherland (President), Lois Pollidore (First Vice President), Anand Bachchan (Second Vice President), Judy Charles (General Secretary), Elicia Douglas Cruickshank (Assistant General Secretary), Sheldon Phillips (General Officer), Jennifer Jack Barras (General Officer), Nolan Swift (Trustee), Clarence Duke (Trustee), Atibah Babb (Trustee). It is significant that six of the ten-member executive are first timers. It certainly seems that TIWU is well prepared to meet the challenges of the future. |
TIWU Will Not Tolerate Treatment of Migrant Workers
TIWU Will Not Tolerate Treatment of Migrant WorkersThe Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) is appalled by the treatment meted out to the workers of the Chinese Construction Company Beijing Luijan. These migrant workers live under inhumane conditions and are ruthlessly exploited by their employers with the silent connivance of the government of Trinidad and Tobago. When the workers who claim they have not been paid for months and who actually had to pay the company to secure work in T&T, protested, quite rightly, for their money riot police were summoned to terrorise and intimidate them for claiming their entitlement. TIWU is mindful of our history of slavery and indentureship where our ancestors came to a strange land, unable to speak the language, were forced to live in barrack-like conditions and to work long hours for little or no compensation. Are we going back to the days of indentureship? The only thing that is different is that the Chinese migrant workers live, not in barracks, but in containers and concentration camps. Imagine these atrocities are taking place under the watch of the Manning regime with a Minister of Labour who seems to have neither power nor influence to ensure that the laws of T&T are complied with. We, in T&T, including in the labour movement, have remained silent for too long. When the Chinese migrant workers laboured like dogs to complete the Tranquillity school on time they were held up as models for local workers. Who cared that their conditions of work were slavery-like. The attitude is work hard, shut your mouth and take whatever we feel to give you. TIWU calls on the government the Minister of Labour, to intervene in a firm manner to stop this blatant exploitation of labour and to ensure that these workers receive their entitlements. The decent work agenda to which the government purports to subscribe demands no less. The International Labour Organisation should investigate this matter closely TIWU calls upon the government to review all contractors with Chinese firms and ensure that the workers they bring in this country are treated like human beings and afforded conditions no less advantageous than that enjoyed by workers of T&T. It seems that the atrocious treatment of the Chinese migrant workers is the model that the government wants to use to suppress the workers of PTSC, WASA, TSTT and other state enterprises. If we allow them to continue the ruthless exploitation and suppression of migrant workers, then how can we argue when they treat us in the same way? We will not tolerate it. |
TIWU Frowns on Chamber's Move
TIWU Frowns on Chamber's Move25 June 2010 Recent moves by the T&T Chamber of Commerce suggest that the private sector is poised to take advantage of the maintenance possibilities arising out of the past government’s construction of “tall buildings” on the waterfront and other areas in Port of Spain. Angella Persad, President of the Chamber, told the Second Annual Caribbean Facilities Management and Maintenance Conference held at the Hyatt Hotel on June 21st: “This is an excellent opportunity for public private sector collaboration, where the private sector can work with the Government to manage and maintain these Government buildings properly to give us the number of years of efficient and cost effective service that they were meant to do,” Ms. Persad speaks of public private sector collaboration, but the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) wishes to remind all concerned that the National Maintenance, Training and Security Company (MTS) was set up for that very purpose. In 1979 MTS was born, as a state owned company (fully owned by the people. of Trinidad and Tobago). Over time, MTS became responsible for the maintenance of over 78 schools and public institutions, including the Financial Complex, National Stadium, Jean Pierre Complex and the Hall of Justice. Outside of this, MTS had also been involved in doing maintenance work for the Carnival Development Committee (CDC). Airport Authority, Central Bank. Ministry of Education, Tobago House of Assembly as well as agricultural projects and landscaping for the Ministry of Health, King George V Park, National Gas Company and technical maintenance jobs for such institutions as C.A.S.T. in Signal Hill and Roxborough in Tobago. MTS has proved itself to be an efficient and effective organisation. It developed as a specialist company and provided expert and efficient maintenance skills in such varied areas as: Janitorial Maintenance, Grounds Maintenance, Masonry, Water and Sewerage Systems, Electrical/Electronic and Machine Systems, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems and Equipment, Welding, Termite Treatment, Piano Repairs, Lathes, Milling Machines, Business Machines, Household Appliances, Vehicle Maintenance, Metal Working Machines, Garment Machines, Hydraulic Equipment, Radial Arm Drills etc. New skill sets that may be necessary to engage in the maintenance of these new buildings can easily be assimilated by MTS workers who are employees of a thirty year old company which has developed a body of knowledge which is unrivalled in the industry. TIWU is very concerned that the Chamber’s new-found interest in the area of building maintenance and facilities management may foreshadow the entry into the field of European companies which may enter into joint ventures with members of the Chamber to the detriment of MTS. Provisions of the European Partnership Agreement (EPA) may put pressure on the state to withdraw from the provision of environmental and other such services and give foreign capitalists free rein to establish dominance over new areas of our economy with the support of local companies who are attuned more to the quick buck than to national economic development. TIWU will strenuously oppose any move in that direction and will bring all resources to bear in our struggle to protect, defend and advance the jobs and standard of living of our members. |
TIWU ON UDECOTT
TIWU: Udecott Board Must Resign 2010-03-08 The Executive Committee of the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) at its statutory meeting of 2010-03-08 noted with keen interest the resignation of Calder Hart from all the state boards and, in particular, from his position as Executive Chairman of UDECOTT. The executive committee noted with concern but not surprise that Calder Hart had apparently fled the country in the wake of his resignation. The executive committee believes that a full scale criminal investigation must be launched into the operation of UDECOTT. The executive committee calls upon the remaining board members of UDECOTT to resign immediately. The executive committee warns the government that the people of Trinidad and Tobago are highly agitated over the implications of the UDECOTT affair and will not be content with any mamaguy investigation meant to obfuscate the issues, cover up wrong doing and protect wrong doers, whether at the level of the UDECOTT board and/or management or at the level of the political directorate. Judy Charles General Secretary |
TIWU MEDIA RELEASE
TRANSPORT AND INDUSTRIAL WORKERS' UNION MEDIA COMMUNIQUE 2009-11-20 The Employers’ Consultative Association (ECA), the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) have all criticised the call by the People’s Democracy for a two day shutdown on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th November. The Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU), which is a member of the People’s Democracy condemns the ECA’s advice to employers as to how to deal with workers who stay at home. We consider it threatening and intimidatory and put the ECA and employers on notice that the labour Movement and the People’s Democracy will not tolerate the victimisation of any worker who supports the call. We stand by the statement of the General Secretary of the National Trade Union Centre, Comrade Vincent Cabrera that some employers prefer that workers suffer silently once they make a profit at the end of the day. Let us make it clear: TIWU, the labour movement and the People’s Democracy will not suffer silently. We will not suffer silently in the face of injustice! We will not suffer silently in the face of the brutalisation of our youth! We will not suffer silently in the face of labour laws designed to support the exploitation of labour; dismissals, suspensions and attacks upon state enterprise workers; massive retrenchment of non-unionised workers; the increasing casualisation of the workforce through the use of contract labour; the elimination of jobs through forced mergers and union–busting by the state! We will not suffer silently in the face of deceptive and oppressive property taxation. We will not suffer silently in the face of food price inflation and the continuing discrimination against small farmers in their effort to develop a policy of food sovereignty so that we could stay afloat in a dog eat dog world where food is increasingly becoming a question of national security and national survival! We will not suffer silently while the government in its scramble to serve the interests of transnational corporations degrade the environment, destroy the ecosystem, endanger the health of whole communities and indeed destroy community lifestyles that developed over generations so that toxin-spewing smelters may enlarge an already too large carbon footprint. We will not suffer silently while UDECOTT and other governmental agencies misuse and squander our national patrimony on grandiose mega projects without a shred of transparency and accountability and our people have to block roads and burn tyres to enjoy basic amnesties like proper roads, potable water, decent health care, quality education, access to decent pensions and a civilised quality of life free from rampant criminality! We will not suffer silently while our already perverted political system sinks further into the quick sand of centralisation of power and maximum leadership to the detriment of the democratic aspirations of our people! The ECA, the Chamber and the TTMA have, once again, demonstrated that the overriding tendency of capitalist economic system is toward the pursuit of profit maximisation at the expense of everything else. The mentality of the plantocracy is alive and well. What these throwbacks must understand is that the cat is already out of the bag and while the trade union movement is central and critical to the implementation of the programme of the People’s Democracy, at last count forty three organisations have subscribed to the programme of the People’s Democracy, including farmers’ organisations, fisher folk, community groups, single issue organisations, environmentalists, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations. These backward-looking organisations that seek to maintain an increasingly unsustainable status quo should take a leaf out of the book of Stephen Cadiz, the President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce who is quoted as saying that businessmen have a civic responsibility to support the shut down. “It’s not just about the dollar and about how much money they have in the bank.”. The members of the ECA, Chamber and TTMA must either learn the lesson of history that human endeavour constantly widens the scope for human liberation or they will be swept away by the march toward participatory democracy at the workplace and in the community: unmourned and unremembered. Roland Sutherland President |
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