JTUM leader Roget: Covid19 an excuse to bully workers

The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) took to the streets on Saturday to protest what it described as unfairness to the working class.

A motorcade which began in front of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) headquarters on Circular Road, San Fernando, saw scores of workers from all unions participating. It ended  at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain.

JTUM president and OWTU president general Ancel Roget said the industrial-relations climate in Trinidad and Tobago has worsened and accused the government and employers of using the covid19 pandemic as a form of bullying towards the working-class.

“It has worsened ten times, therefore what we are seeing are employers taking advantage of the situation to disregard collective bargaining agreements. There are absolutely no discussions taking place.”

He added that no sacrifices were made by the employers and the government, but a burden was handed down to workers.

Roget also chastised the governments over the years of introducing new legislation in Parliament, but none to address the suffering of the working class.

“We have seen governments disregarding the urgent need for labour legislation reform.

“If we are so important and needed to turn the wheels of the economy, why then must our issues be placed on the back burner? What they (government) are signalling is that they do not care about workers.”

On Friday, at a virtual meeting, Roget said the country could have been in a better position than at present, “If the powers that be had listened to the trade union movement and taken us on board.”

Communication Workers Union (CWU) president Joseph Remy said despite efforts to remove the trade union movement from key decisions in the national economy it has stood strong.

He said it was disheartening that National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC), despite having been enshrined under the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to deal with workers’ rights, was not an engine of the government.

“We have demonstrated our level of responsibility to still be sitting at the table because we believe we have a right to be there. We demand our right to be present, but we also demand our right to disengage if we believe our efforts are futile and if we believe it is just a charade.”

Remy said was the motorcade was the beginning of an effort by unions to form a united front to deal with the major issues that have affected the lives of all working-class citizens of TT.

He too accused the Government, employers and other authorities of abusing the covid19 pandemic to manipulate workers.

“We have seen covid19 being used deliberately by those in authority and by the government to exploit and undermine the collective bargaining process, the terms and conditions of employment and by extension disenfranchise citizens in terms of their fundamental rights.”

“The trade union movement must be and must remain a critical social partner in national development. We have seen a lot of efforts to move away the trade unions from the table of national discussions on critical issues that impact citizens.”