MSJ: Opportunity for labour

THE Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) says this year's Labour Day celebrations offers an opportunity for workers and the trade union movement.

Party leader David Abdulah made this observation in his Labour Day message to the nation.

He reminded citizens this year's Labour Day activities comes after the April 28 general election in which the UNC won 26 constituencies, the PNM retained 13 and the Tobago People's Party (TPP) won two.

Before the election, the PNM had been in government since September 7, 2015.

Abdulah said for the last ten years under the PNM, there was "a vicious attack on the trade union movement and the working class as that government pursued its neo-liberal policies that result in the rich becoming richer, the middle income struggle to make ends meet, and the poor not able to put food on the table."

The majority of workers, he continued, are not unionised and as a result many are being subjected to exploitation by unscrupulous employers.

"Many labour laws are terribly outdated and some are very anti-worker/anti-trade union; the trade union movement has historically been divided along political and ideological lines."

Abdulah said, "Rejuvenation can now take place as the trade union movement has won some breathing space after the relentless attacks of the past ten years by the PNM."

This space, he continued, presents a major opportunity to engage in advocacy, supported by the trade union representatives in government, for major reforms to labour laws and for improvements in wages.

Abdulah added, "There is no telling how long this space will last so trade unions must seize the moment and not lose the opportunity which it has created by its own political interventions."