Lifeguards warn of industrial action

FRUSTRATED LIFEGUARDS on Tuesday threatened industrial action if their calls for better working conditions, equipment and PPE are not met.

Speaking on behalf of the lifeguards at their union's head office on Henry Street, Port of Spain, president general of the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW), James Lambert, said for more than a decade the union and by extension the lifeguards have been appealing through the proper channels to raise awareness of their plight. He said, this will be the last time the union will be appealing via a press conference.

“If it were not for the pandemic we would have been picketing already,” Lambert said. “We spoke about it and we realised that we no longer could continue the way we have been. This will be the last press conference that we will be having before some industrial action is taken – regardless of the consequences.”

NUGFW chair for the lifeguards Augustus Sylvester knocked the government for its lack of interest.

“We are in the 21st century and our lifeguards are operating like we live in the 1940s. There is no equipment despite recommendations made to the ministry.

“Up to two years ago we had up to 13 vehicles including two ambulances. Today none are working. Why? Because of the ministry faltering, and there is no maintenance.”

Secretary of the lifeguard branch Gideon Valdez told reporters that lifeguards have been pleading for the same thing for the past 16 years. He complained that lifeguard booths were dilapidated, and were frequently used by undesirables as a hotel or a toilet.

“So at any given time a lifeguard could walk into a booth and see a used condom or a pile of faeces,” Sylvester added.

The lifeguards said their last correspondence was a letter sent directly to Minister of National Security Stuart Young, complaining about the same issues, on November 26. Up to Tuesday, they had got no response.

Lambert said other than calling the ministry to negotiate, the union can write to the Chief Personnel Officer. Failing that, they can go to the Ministry of Labour, and the final avenue would be the Industrial Court.

“But with those procedures that would be taking two to three years before you can get a hearing. You cannot resolve the matter that way.”

This would not be the first time that lifeguards took industrial action.

In 2019, lifeguards at Maracas Beach stayed away from work in protest against health and safety issues at their headquarters.

As a result there was no immediate help for a Penal man identified as Raj Sonnylal, when he got into difficulty at Maracas Bay in June last year. Relatives went looking for lifeguards then, but could not find any. Lifeguards from Las Cuevas had to be called in to assist. He was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital but died.

Sylvester said lifeguards do up to 90 rescues a year.