by Lee Anna Maharaj
The Joint Trade Union Association has dared the government to take legal action against them during a demonstration march at the Chief Personnel Officers’ (CPO) office in St Clair, Port-of-Spain.
The Prison Officers' Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Fire Officers' Association, as well as the Police Social and Welfare Association, were present at the march on Friday.
Speaking at the demonstration, President of the Prison Officers' Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Ceron Richards said they are not afraid to go to court.
“We are not to be bullied and frightened into a court in a process that is young that we still have discussions ensuing and the CPO is bullying his way, telling us he is going to carry us to court. We are not impressed about that at all, as a matter of fact, we are telling the CPO, Bring it on! I dare you, bring it on!” Richards said.
He added:
“Take the whole country to court, all the workers of Trinidad and Tobago, take them to court! Because if that is the Government’s rendition of managing an economy, well heaven help them. If the government wants to take T&T to court, if Dr Keith Rowley, Mr Imbert, the CPO, rendition of managing a good economy is by taking all of its citizens, all of the working class to court, well then let them bring it on!”
Richards, along with Leo Ramkissoon, president of Fire Officers' Association, handed over letters to the CPO’s office, officially stating their rejection of the 4 per cent officer, citing their reasons for doing so.
"The Prison Officers Association has always communicated to the CPO that what we want first and foremost is a negotiation that is not robbed of its integrity. Negotiation is an onward discussion between both parties and we will reach a point at some time where we agree and go forward. The CPO and by extension the government is robbing us of that sacred process,” Richards added.
JTUM president Ancel Roget, who was also present, added that the CPO and Government are bullying public servants and that they would not cave in to the bullying. He warned leaders of the protective services not to give in to the 4 per cent offer.
“It is not just that the offer is unfair, it is also disrespectful and the method by which they are approaching, is highly contemptuous and bullying. To accept 4 per cent will be a betrayal of the members. If anyone of these comrades of the leaderships of anyone of the protective services accepts 4 per cent it will be a betrayal of the trust and the confidence that the members reposed on them,” Roget said.
Richards informed that further action from the union members may come and they will make announcements accordingly.
“Our membership is getting angrier and angrier and they’re going to become less and less predictable and they’re going to take it into their own hands,” he said.