As the days go by and the trade unions talk more and more about their "struggling," it leaves one to wonder how much political spin is being added to the "struggle." Today's newspaper stories quote the OWTU President, Ancel Roget, as saying that a cabal is advising the Prime Minister and causing a fall in her confidence. Is Mr Roget "struggling" or is he making this a political fight? Already, Roget has decided to keep quiet on the number of non-monetary benefits workers stand to benefit from and is only harping on about a five percent wage cap that doesn't even exist.
He is also trying to mobilise workers by putting fear in their minds on issues that the union itself will be responsible for creating. Now I even hear an asinine argument about modern slavery aided and abetted by the PNM. I mean are we really going to make a mockery of one of the worst periods in human history to sell a foolish and childish demand for money in a season of restraint?
Roget is also now engaged in a public spat with the PSA president Watson Duke who demonstrated vision and understanding of the present economic condition by accepting a five percent wage increase. So on top of Roget and his friends fighting a political fight and using workers as their shields, there is also again growing disunity in the trade union moving caused directly by Roget et al. I mean, what's going on? When are the trade unions actually going to think about the wellbeing of our country and the future rather than just wanting money now for now!
Darian Juman
Via e-mail