Opposition Leader Labour Day Message
On the eighty-sixth anniversary of the founding of the modern trade union movement and the working class and as Political Leader of the government-in-waiting, I wish to extend greetings to the entire trade union movement and the working people of our beloved nation who have been toiling under the most oppressive and brutal conditions ever witnessed since the 1930s.
Never before have workers faced such a concerted and calculated assault and vicious attacks by the worst anti-worker, anti-Labour, anti-trade union and anti-people government as under this vicious and wicked Rowley-led regime.
Added to this, citizens are faced with rising crime levels, high unemployment and a lack of opportunities, as well as a cost of living crisis.
The PNM in its various incarnations has ruthlessly eroded the base of organised Labour. We just have to recall the unjustified closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd. All other countries involved in sugar production are still in business just as all the countries that had been involved in oil refining are still in business and taking advantage of the high fuel prices while Trinidad and Tobago cannot even produce bitumen to patch our horrible roads.
Under my watch, we settled over one hundred and thirty-three (133) collective agreements valued at close to $6b. Since then, no negotiations have been settled around the table by this vicious PNM government since 2015, except for the imposition of four (4) per cent. It was indeed painful to witness public sector workers being forced to accept 4 per cent salary increases only because the other option available was the prospect of having collective agreements for five years and more being imposed on them by the Special Tribunal.
The Rowley-led PNM knows how to apply the law in an oppressive manner. They do not rule for the benefit of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. This provision in the law is harsh and oppressive and must be changed to reflect the norms of the industrial relations practice of three-year agreements.
The vicious and anti-trade union Rowley-led PNM regime is now making efforts to broaden the scope of essential services to include the oil and gas sector. This must not be allowed to take place.
A UNC government when it returns to office shall review the laws in relation to essential services to ensure that only the truly essential services are placed in that category, consistent with the conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Over the past eight years, the PNM regime has shown complete contempt and disrespect towards the entire trade union movement manifested in the complete collapse of the free collective bargaining process. A UNC government will ensure an independent collective bargaining process.
Under this PNM regime mass retrenchment has been the order of the day under the guise of restructuring.
There has also been a proliferation of contract employment throughout the public sector. Today there exists over 16,000 contract workers in the Civil Service equivalent to its permanent cadre of some 16,000 or less.
The regime is now seeking to privatise and contract the services of workers employed in the Board of Inland Revenue and the Customs and Excise Division. The UNC does not support this move and shall reverse it when we return to office.
In addition, following the tragedy of the Paria divers and the subsequent Commission of Enquiry, which only came about after the Opposition called for an investigation, the government has shown scant interest in strengthening Health and Safety regulations.
We call on the Prime Minister, upon the completion of the report of the Commission, to lay this report in Parliament.
On the occasion of Labour Day 2023, coming weeks before the Local Government elections, I call on the Labour Movement and all working people to stand firm and send an unmistakable and unequivocal message to this oppressive and vicious Rowley-led PNM regime by retrenching them on August 14 in all fourteen corporations. This country erred by giving the PNM a chance in 2015 and 2020. We have seen the oppressive, brutal and cruel nature of this criminal administration. Enough is enough. Don’t tote, vote. Vote them out on August 14, 2023.
The UNC remains ready to return good governance to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
Leader of the Opposition
18th June 2023