Government has committed a political sin against trade unions by refusing to remove restrictions on holding public meetings and demonstrations during the ongoing state of emergency (SoE). So says one of the leading trade unionists opposed to the continuation of the SoE, Vincent Cabrera, president of the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Trade Union, and former general secretary of the National Trade Union Centre. Stressing it was the PP which solicited the support of trade unions during the May 24, 2010 general election, Cabrera said a cake was even bought on behalf of the unions for then leader of the United National United Congress, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Q: Mr Cabrera, I see the PNM and a segment of the labour movement have organised a nice little partnership?
A: somber expression at his Eighth Street, Barataria, office of the BIGWU, Wednesday morning) Well, that is a very loaded question. It could be described as a wicked question (wringing his palms) and because of that I would not even answer it...
Why?
(Voice raised) Clevon, let me warn you from the beginning, let me warn you from the beginning...I read almost all of your interviews and I am a trade unionist for more than 36 years, so you better come good. I asked that question because the Opposition PNM and some trade unionists are singing the same tune these days...in tandem? The people cussing us now were hugging us up just before the last general election, and the people who are praising and hugging us up now were cussing us during that campaign. We were being hugged by the Partnership and cussed by the PNM. One thing you have to say about us is that we are consistent in our battle for the working class and what was bad for the goose is bad for gander, too. Some trade union leaders are crying betrayal because you supported the PP during the campaign and...? (Interrupting) Not only for that reason, you see we did not go out and deliberately look for a party to support. They came to us, they solicited our support.
How was this done?
I remember when I was general secretary of the National Trade Union Centre, Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar had just taken over leadership of the United National Congress and she asked to meet with us. It is I who rang up the UNC's Fyzabad constituency office and asked what kind of cake she liked because she was meeting us on her birthday...and went and buy a cake for her.
What is the point of this?
The point I am making is that we went through all of that, we even told Mr Manning that we never supported any political party before. But this time we supported a political party. So we must feel betrayed.
When did this alleged betrayal actually began?
(In a reflective mode) I think it began when that five per cent was put on the table and when we were called into the meeting with the Prime Minister at her office; if you recall that there was a big demonstration outside her St Clair office. (Cabrera described events at that session and claimed there was no intention of having a serious dialogue with the delegation). She was not hugging up the businessmen then (during the campaign) but she is hugging them up now; they are her friends now, we are no longer her friends.
Mr Cabrera, this fracture in the relations between both sides, can it ever be repaired?
Any relationship within the boundaries of the same country can be repaired, it depends on how you approach it and let's look at this. We have always been a strong proponent of the tripartite concept but this Government has never taken any initiative to call labour and employers together to have any tripartite discussion. I think they are too busy outing fires, many set by them, and calling a state of emergency.
This raises the question of one of your former comrades, Errol McLeod in the Cabinet of the PP administration. Do you think he is sympathetic to your cause?
(Stroking his black/grey beard) I have no reason to believe Comrade Mc Leod is not sympathetic to the labour organisations but he is a member of a Cabinet, and in this half-baked Westminster system if he disagrees with the Prime Minister he has to resign or he may be kicked out. So far, McLeod has acted as a minister and that is all I have to say. You will not get me to say anything critical of comrade McLeod in this interview.
I never sought?
(Another sharp interruption) When I am ready Clevon (talking in a loud tone over the continuation of the question)...when I am ready to criticise comrade McLeod, I will call you and you would be the first to know it. But at this time I shall say no more on this issue.
Why?
Because of my political strategy, I am very political. Whereas some trade unionists would tell you: " 'Boy I not in politics, I am just a trade unionist.' " I am political from the tip of my forehead (touching it with one finger) right down to the last toe. I also tell workers they must be political because workers must have a working class party to represent them.
Mr Cabrera, the trade unions have proposed a Christmas commercial boycott if the business community does not support your call for an immediate end to the state of emergency. Is this practical in your strategy to achieve that end?
What do you mean, if it is practical? It is only a position we have put forward, and let me put it in the context in which it was done.
I think we all know the context in which it was done.
No, you don't understand the context...
How do you know what is in my head?
(With a poker face) I telling you, I know you don't know. I am a seer man. I could see into people brains. Next question.
Mr Cabrera, trade unionists want Government to remove the regulation barring the holding of public demonstrations and meetings during the current state of emergency. Why should this be done for only one segment of the population?
The Government said it was imposed to do deal with crime. Are we criminals? If you're saying that this thing has nothing do with trade unions, why still keep those regulations in place?
Government has committed a political sin against the trade union movement by not...
Mr Cabrera...
(Interrupting again) You could call me comrade...by not removing the offending articles in the regulations.
Comrade Cabrera, are you sure you all are not acting on political emotions in these issues?
Clevon, are you saying it is impossible to delete those specific prohibitions from the regulations? They have the power to do it.
Do we know what information the National Security Council may have in its possession?
You don't know and I do not know, but I am not going to assume that there is something that they know that allows that (withholding information from the public) because if it is, come out and say: "Guys we cannot have public meetings, we cannot have marches because it is going to interfere with the security arrangements." But they are not saying that. While there are many people who may agree with them Clevon, the job of a trade unionist is not an easy one and we have to say unpopular things at times.
Because you have your own constituency to satisfy?
Yes, we have our constituency to treat with.
Even if it means saying any old thing?
No (voice lowered and speaking slowly), I don't think anything I have just said could be described as any old thing. I am saying democracy is a difficult thing to abide with. It includes things such as my right to standing up and speaking through a microphone, printing and handing out documentation, the right to demonstrate. Those are rights recognised by the United Nations and these have been taken away.
Come on comrade, have they been permanently taken away?
(Voice raised in another interruption) Hold on! Hold on! Do you know when it would be lifted?
(Stroking his face with both hands) I say if you take away my freedoms for one minute I am aggrieved.
I am not a spokesman for the Government, but don't you agree that something had to be done to grapple with this horrendous crime situation?
I am not saying that, but the goodly lady said this was not directed at the trade union movement. So show me how by holding our public meetings, holding demonstrations and by being allowed to distribute literature, show me how that is affecting Government action against crime.
If you could do that I would be the first one to tell the unionists: "Guys, let us hold our hands." But it has not been explained to us and, in fact, one of the ministers said very early in the SoE the trade unions could wait, ok? That is the height of impertinence.
You are disregarding matters of national security as a good reason why they cannot explain to the general public everything that is involved in this scenario?
Look this is 2011, not 1911. If you are saying that we should accept everything they say without question I must genuflect. And from tomorrow, I will tell everybody to genuflect to the state of emergency because if you don't genuflect there would be problems with our national security.
Clevon, next question.
You know you are being sarcastic?
Next question Clevon.
If a general election is called tomorrow, are you going to vote Mr Manning and Dr Rowley-meaning the PNM?
If an election is called tomorrow I want to vote for a worker's party. It is time for a working class party and we are not apologising to anybody for saying so.
Petty bourgeoisie parties are snakes to the working class. Print that. Thank you very much Mr Clevon Raphael. (Picks up his leather briefcase and headed down town for a negotiating session).