TRINIDAD-LABOUR-Unions call national strike for September 8

 

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trade unions in Trinidad have called for a nationwide strike on September 8 in a bid to force the government to deal with the escalating crime situation, child abuse, high food prices and the misuse of the nation's natural resources.

 

The labour leaders, who met at Fyzabad on Thursday for their traditional Labour Day celebrations, also announced that workers would engage in a nationwide demonstration on July 18.

 

"One month from today we must put more than the 20,000 people we see here on the streets; either in Port of Spain or San Fernando or Chaguanas. We must do that! Put our feet on the streets and tell the establishment that this is only the smoke, the fire behind!" declared outgoing President General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Errol Mc Leod who addressed the Labour Day celebrations for the last time as union boss.

 

The trade unionists, grouped under the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN), and the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) met in a united front for the first time in eight years.

 

Mc Leod said that the country has suffered enough and it was time for workers to take a stand.

 

"We have taken too much. Enough is enough. We must strike!" he said, adding that the country's leadership had developed tunnel vision and was unable to stem the escalating crime wave.

 

"We have an abundance of money and many plasters are being bought to cover the festering sores plaguing our society and our nation," Mc Leod continued, also criticising the traditional political parties of failing the nation.

 

The veteran trade unionist said that if the Patrick Manning government could not be swayed by the force of the unions arguments "then they must be moved by the strength of numbers".


Earlier, President of the Public Service Association (PSA), Jennifer Baptiste said that the unions must not stand idly by while women and children were being raped and killed.

 

"If we want our children to be safe and for our society to be free of fear, we must take direct interest. When good men and women refuse to stand up for what is right then evil will prevail," she said.

 

Meantime, Mc Leod, who assumed leadership of the OWTU in 1987 is expected to hand over the mantle of leadership to the union's First Vice President Ancil Roget.

 

The labour leader had high praise for his successor, saying Roget has "all the potential that will see him being a successful torch carrier".

 

But Mc Leod said he will remain in the workers' struggle.

 

 

CMC/rl/pr/dmb/08