Labour Minister Errol McLeod says he will not be manipulated by his comrades "from whose bosoms I have come." He said "fair play" was the name of the game if "people" insisted on playing games. He said games were being played with serious business. McLeod was speaking at a press conference at his office, International Waterfront Complex yesterday following protest action by members of Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU). He said: "Indeed, games are being played with serious business and I am not going to be manipulated and the Ministry of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development and particularly the conciliation unit will not be intimidated so long as I have anything to do with it."
McLeod gave a timeline of the events leading up to negotiation talks between Petrotrin, the union and himself which were scheduled to take place at 2 pm yesterday at the ministry's office St James Street, San Fernando. The ministry is acting as a facilitator in the conciliation process between the company and union as a result of the breakdown in discussions for wage negotiations. He said he was surprised at the number of Petrotrin workers and union members who had staged the protest outside the complex. He said he was unsure of the reason for the protest. He said: "This ministry and particularly this minister is going to insist and I continue to insist on good procedure, fair play and respect for all."
He said two meetings were set up but OWTU president Ancel Roget cancelled saying he did not want to meet in San Fernando but in Port-of-Spain. McLeod said there were no facilities to accommodate the meeting and hosting it at the Hyatt Regency was too expensive. McLeod said he "pleaded" with Roget on January 22 to have a meeting in San Fernando on January 24 but Roget said he was otherwise engaged. Another meeting was organised for February 3 at 9.30 am but that also failed.