CWU head taking legal action against TSTT and security

Secretary General of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) Clyde Elder said he will be taking legal action against the Telecommunications Services of TT (TSTT) and the security personnel who threw him out of the TSTT Nelson Exchange at Edward Street, Port of Spain, last Wednesday.

Elder said he was physically thrown out of the compound and sustained soft tissue injuries during the commotion. He maintained that he broke no law and was conducting union business.

"I intend to take legal action against the security personnel who manhandled me and those who gave instructions to manhandle me. They were TSTT internal security and Allied Security Services Ltd. I have made a report to the police already. I need to go back to the police station to find out how far those inquiries have reached and then I would meet with my attorney."

Elder said he had asked for a copy of the medical report from the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was treated after the fracas, but was told that it would be given to the police when they came during their investigation.

"After that I will take legal action. I breached no laws and I can say that categorically. I was operating within the confines of the Industrial Relations Act and the collective agreement. I was there to represent the workers' interests in terms of their grievances. I was there in my capacity as the head and the leader of the CWU and I was there to conduct legitimate union activity.

"I was not disrupting any activity of the company. The security said to me that I was not being disruptive or a security threat. He admitted that his instructions were that I be removed even though I was not trespassing."