After this week's failure, the Government and the trade union leaders need to return to the bargaining table and keep talking until they resolve their differences. It is simply not an option for the two sides to keep talking past each other rather than to each other-a situation which could lead to T&T stumbling into a work stoppage resembling a national strike almost by accident. In this period of economic recovery, sta- bilisation and with the hope for a return to sustainable growth, the economic and social partners have to find ways to reach agree-ment to peacefully end the boiling confrontation. Fact is the economy cannot afford the financial cost of a national strike or one that affects certain significant sectors of the economy. Indeed, it could very well be that a strike of essential services can cripple even those sectors of the economy where workers are contented. And no one has to read and spell, the unions are making their intentions clear.
Similarly, the emotional stress involved when workers and their families are dislocated and the fact of the country being put through the psychological trauma associated with a major stoppage of work which could result in a general strike are things which must be avoided. In such circumstances even the jobs of workers and their salary levels can be threatened. Trade Minister Bhoe Tewarie, even if diplomatically, raised the spectre of job losses and reduced salaries at the post-meeting news conference. And even if it were with the intention of making the labour leaders pause to give a second thought to the possible outcome of their actions in a general strike, Dr Tewarie's point is that reduced revenues require the Government to look for ways and means to keep its expenditure in line with revenues. Now based on the postures being adopted by the unions, some may argue that the trade union leaders are spoiling for a confrontation with the Government. It is all about demonstrating to the Prime Minister and her Government that they have the power. They want to bring the Government to its political knees for what they call the "disrespect" being meted out to them.
The Government on the other hand has fed the conflict with the unions, having forced the Public Services Association into acquiescing to what seemed very much like a cap on wage settlements it intended to carry out in the Public Service and the state sector. From there, the attitude of the Government has been to make as if all other unions would fall in line. Additionally, there have been provocative statements coming from both sides which have not helped and obviously contributed to the failure of Tuesday's meeting to arrive at a mutually satisfying position. No clearer evidence was the provocation in what the unions have interpreted as a dare on the part of the Prime Minister for them to go ahead with a strike if they are not satisfied. By their very assemblage outside the office of the Prime Minister and from what Mrs Persad-Bissessar described as their attempts to force her into yielding to their demands, the unions, like the Government, obviously were not contributing to allowing for the fabled and much needed "good sense to prevail."
There is much egotistical "flaming," as the colloquial expression well describes the grandstanding that has gone on. The Government and the unions must therefore back away from those attitudes towards each other. In the process they must avoid the calcification of positions and dispositions and think of the national interest. With nothing said about future meetings and/or specific ways to avoid strike action, the Government especially has to find a formula for getting the two sides meeting again. The times require inspirational and proactive leadership by the Prime Minister. The union leaders too cannot stand on the sidelines shouting "fire." The flames will burn and suffocate all within sight.
