For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the trade union movement will be able to mark Labour Day celebrations in their traditional style with a march to the Charlie King Junction in Fyzabad.
And with their discontent with the Government at an all-time high, the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) on Wednesday announced some of their plans for June 19 during a press conference at the Bankers Insurance & General Workers’ Trade Union (BIGWU) headquarters in Barataria.
“The main highlight of the activities in Trinidad and Tobago on June will be the trade union movement moving a motion of no-confidence in the Rowley-led administration, against Dr Rowley and his Government, against Dr Rowley’s leadership, against Dr Rowley’s stewardship, against Dr Rowley’s disrespectful approach to governance and his attack on the trade union movement,” JTUM president general Ancel Roget said.
Roget said the time had come for the working class to unite to send a strong message to the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM.) He said there has been a massive wave of retrenchments since the PNM came into power in 2015.
“It is as though their mandate was to send people home, that perhaps is what they believe, which is why we are seeing retrenchment taking place and not a word coming from the Minister of Labour in that regard,” Roget said.
He said the population as a whole was being further burdened by increased taxes and the rising cost of living, while workers were being offered a pittance as a salary increase for an eight-year period.
“We cannot, shall not, dare not take that and therefore, on the basis of those and many more issues that continue to affect and impact the entire country, the trade union movement will be moving a motion of no-confidence in Dr Rowley’s leadership,” Roget said.
The celebrations are open to all, Roget said.
He was joined at the press conference by several other trade union leaders, who also sent out calls to their membership to join the events on June 19.
The theme for this year’s Labour Day is Unite to Fight: Today for me, tomorrow for you.
General secretary of the Communications Workers’ Union, Clyde Elder said the theme was especially important at this time.
“It is only Government’s stupid agenda aided and abetted by their financiers and cronies in companies, that you are seeing workers going home every Monday morning, so our theme for this Labour Day is today for me, and if you are not in the today for me part, then you will be in the tomorrow for me part,” Elder said.
National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) general secretary Michael Anisette said NATUC will be marching in Tobago while their colleagues will march in Trinidad.He said this does not mean there is a divide within the movement.
