Operations at the Port of Port-of-Spain returned to normal yesterday, after strike action by over 1,000 workers on Thursday caused major disruptions to its business.
However, Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Union president general Michael Annisette is sticking to his seven-day timeframe for the Port Authority of T&T to deal with the main issues that sparked the action.
Despite this demand, Annisette yesterday insisted it was not an ultimatum.
“I don’t consider that an ultimatum. We believe that seven days, given the time span in which these matters were being discussed and raised with management, seven days is sufficient time to address some of those issues and that requires just the managerial decision to move the goalpost,” Annisette told Guardian Media.
However, he did not say what would happen if the PATT did not act.
The strike action caused the disruption of all cargo activity and gridlock traffic heading into the capital for more than three hours, as trucks waiting to get onto the 5 pm sailing of the Cabo Star lined Wrightson Road, also blocking the entire westbound side of the major thoroughfare.
Annisette said there were a plethora of issues facing workers but their main concerns was the PATT management’s decision to renege on a wage deal. He claimed while they signed off on a 12 per cent increase with the PATT management, the Government is now refusing it.
The union head said he could not quantify the losses the port incurred due to the action taken by the workers.
He noted, however, that the union is also empathising with the port management, as they too should be given increases in salaries and appointed to requisite portfolios at the port.
In a release on Thursday night, the PATT said there were no disruptions to the sailings of the APT James, Buccoo Reef and Cabo Star ferries, but that all cargo operations were disrupted by the absenteeism of equipment operators.
