WHO HAVE MORE CORN...! Gerry Kangalee writes: "While the government may promise no loss of jobs as part of the divestment deal the new owners will not bind themselves to that when they take control. When Powergen took over T&TEC’s generating assets in 1994, there was a promise of no retrenchment. Seventy workers lost their jobs. Since the privatisation of ISCOTT in 1994, approximately five hundred and fifty jobs have disappeared. A promise is a comfort to a fool!"...more HIGHWAY WORKERS RESIST OAS EXPLOITATION Wages are way below industry standards. Skilled workers are paid less than government daily paid labourers. There were grouses over vacation pay and the length of the probationary period. Workers are arbitrarily reclassified and forced to work outside of the classification for which they signed up and the performance appraisal system is said to be slipshod, subjective and liable to be used to discriminate and intimidate workers...more NWU ATTENDS MIGRATION WORKSHOP Discussions centred on critical issues facing migrant workers such as their rights to Union representation, equal treatment, occupational safety and health conditions, fair wages and other benefits such as an eight hour day, accrued retirement benefits and other fair benefits extended to workers of the host country...more RODNEY FAMILY SAYS THANKS The Rodney family would like to thank everyone who expressed their commitment to human rights and social justice by opposing the award. The solidarity and continuing efforts to uphold the legacy of Walter Rodney are greatly appreciated...more IN LIMBO FOR FIVE YEARS Clico and British American Insurance workers have become “silent victims and casualties of the obscene and runaway mismanagement that has been exposed in the Colman Enquiry, and which was presided over by multi-millionaire tycoons Lawrence Duprey and Andre Monteil and their trough-feeding cohorts at CL Financial.”...more THE ESOP ILLUSION Cecil Paul writes; "ESOP plans in their varying applications are nothing more than a management tool and a strategy to pacify workers. It effectively keeps out Unions and in cases where there is a Union considerably weakens the Union and gives workers a false sense of perceived ownership and control when in fact the companies remain under the control of the ruling business elites."...more SHAKE OFF YOUR FEAR! JOIN A TRADE UNION! Workers are exploited in both the public and private sectors and this is “blamed” on the “difficult economic times” we live in today. Well even a glance at history will never reveal a “good” economic time when employers ever voluntarily gave just remuneration to their employees; every benefit paid was won by struggle!...more SOUTH AFRICA DEFERS BURNHAM AWARD ...the South African government has deferred granting a national award (the Oliver Tambo Award) to the late Guyana President, Forbes Burnham, "in the wake of pressure from several quarters"...more DUKE SUSPENDS EXEC. MEMBERS AGAIN The suspensions, the third in less than two years, were reportedly imposed on Monday 29th April 2013 after the High Court ruled in their favour on Friday 26th April in the matter of their suspension on January 17th 2013...more NWU SALUTES MAY DAY The workers put forward demands for an 8 hour working day, better health conditions, for social legislation, for equal suffrage for men and women, for greater political and industrial freedom and better conditions of livelihood and as a protest against militarism and war. Workers throughout the world began to celebrate May 1st as a day of international workers solidarity and continue to do so...more GOV'T AIDS EXPLOITATION OF FAST FOOD WORKERS If Prestige Holdings is losing or unable to attract workers, it suggests that the conglomerate needs to check its working conditions and not focus only wringing out super profits at the expense of the workers...more NWU SLAMS AWARD TO BURNHAM Burnham maintained power through rigging elections and maintained it through a policy of racist discrimination and oppression of working people and through the use of thuggery and violence against political opponents...more CORRUPTION HAVE NO PARTY CARD! They view the exposure of one corrupted politico as an opportunity and a ’cleansing’ exercise and a refocus by the public away from their own corruption onto a colleague or another party. George Weekes used to say: “corruption have no party card.”...more JACK GONE! JACK DEY! Warner didn’t invent the system. Neither did Boysie Prevatt. Political parties enter government with the objective of looting the treasury and utilising public funds for the enrichment of individuals who occupy high position or who have financed the election campaigns of political parties. Jack gone! Jack dey!...more AFRO-VENEZUELANS AGAINST RIGHT WING VIOLENCE We call on organized nuclei and to the people in general of Afro-Venezuelan and Afro-descendant communities across the country to defend the gains of the Bolivarian process and reject the fascist and racist aggression led by Primero Justicia, Alianza Bravo Pueblo, Democratic Action, COPEI and other members of the MUD...more TTUTA'S RED DAY In a media release issued on April 15th 2013, Peter Wilson, General Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) called on teachers to make Friday 19th April RED DAY...more NORRIS DEONARINE IS... The National Foodcrop Farmers Association (NFFA) held a memorial to mark the Second Anniversary of the death of Norris Deonarine on April 6th 2013 at the Norris Deonarine Northern Wholesale Market in Macoya...more TTUTA DEFENDS LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS TTUTA reassures the national community that the overwhelming majority of teachers are hardworking and professional despite their difficult working conditions and all the assorted tribulations. They care for their students, protect, nurture and inspire them, foster values of honesty and creativity, enable them to develop their individual talents and engender community and national pride...more OWTU ON TOBAGO BLACKOUT The OWTU views the Minister of Energy’s misinformed statement as malicious, unfortunate and disturbing. It was designed to protect his friends in senior management at T&TEC while pointing fingers at the workers. We will not facilitate the Minister in collaboration with T&TEC’s management creating scapegoats while failing to identify the true events of Good Friday morning...more NWU: KAMLA DOES NOT SPEAK FOR US! The National Workers Union will not be hypocritical and shed crocodile tears for one who proudly propagated naked capitalist exploitation, was a sworn enemy of the trade union movement and pursued policies which devastated the living standard and quality of life of millions of working people in Britain and provided a template for the inflicting of misery on billions around the world...more NWU RECOGNITION UPDATES Comrade Dave Smith, General Secretary of the National Workers Union (NWU) provides an update on two applications for recognition the NWU has made to the Recognition Board...moreCWU DEFENDS MEDIA WORKERS The Communication Workers’ Union stands in solidarity with all members of the Media and the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago and will support any action by the Media Association in the defence of its members...more COSSABO AGREES ON CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRIVATISATION Union representatives from across the trade union movement gathered at the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Hall on Henry Street in Port of Spain on Saturday March 23rd 2013 to develop an action plan to beat back and derail the government’s privatisation policy...more MODERN DAY SLAVERY Brother Scobie writes: "Why do the employers see the workers only as a tool of production? The worker is a human being who has challenges to address outside of the work place, and is only using his/her employment status as a means of meeting and satisfying some of these challenges of life"...more CWU HITS THE STREETS On Friday March 22nd 2013, the Communications Workers' Union (CWU) organised a picket demonstration outside the Trinidad and Tobago parliament in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The picket was supported by unions of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM)...more SUITS FOR LIFE Rae Samuel writes: "If I were a tailor and you were a journalist, former member of the boxing board, newspaper editor, chairperson of a political party in partnership, just about anyone within reach, I would be sewing court clothes for all ah all yuh"...more TEACHERS OR POLITICAL FOOTBALLS? On Wednesday March 20th 2013, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers' Association (TTUTA) staged a picket demonstration at the Ministry of Education in Port of Spain. The picket was aimed at urging the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) to stop the undue delay and ensure that 2010 graduates of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) are upgraded from Assistant Teacher positions. After two and a half years these teachers have not been upgraded to Teacher I status. Rae Samuel, National Equality Officer of the National Workers Union, speaks to three of the teachers affected by this blatant discrimination...more CWU SLAMS SOLDIER POLICE BILL The CWU joins with all the other Civil Society organisations in condemning this move and calls on the Government to withdraw this potentially dangerous legislation and engage in the process of Social Dialogue to arrive at a more sensible approach to stem the rampaging crime wave...more NWU: DEFEND OWTU! THE IRA MUST GO! Far from promoting “good industrial relations” the Industrial Relations Act shifts the industrial relations terrain decisively in favour of the employers. It is a weapon of class domination and is used as a battering ram to assault and weaken the trade union movement in the ongoing class struggle...more THE BOLIVARIAN RE-IGNITION Burton Sankeralli writes: "Yet Caracas as problem is also possibility as it is here the world-to-come first decisively touches and confronts reality as it is. Future commentators in all likelihood will say that Caracas was the first battlefield in the Great Transition"...more TTUTA CONDEMNS CAC FARCE Peter Wilson, General Secretary of TTUTA writes: "TTUTA again expresses its dismay at the rushed, reckless implementation of the ill-planned Continuous Assessment Component (CAC) of the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA), even as all students in Standard 5 did the Final Assessment in Creative Writing today March 14, 2013 in over five hundred (500) primary schools throughout the country."...more OIL IN TURMOIL On the morning of March 13th 2013, workers at the Petrotrin refinery in Pointe-A-Pierre, members of the Oilfields Workers Trade Union, gathered outside the gates and rallied at the roundabout instead of reporting for work...more JTUM: THREE WAYS TO ADVANCE WOMEN'S RIGHTS ...the women of the Joint Trade Union Movement wish to highlight three significant areas which would greatly benefit from your intervention: 1. Women’s ability to balance work and family life 2. Women’s rights at the workplace 3. Ensuring “worker” status for Domestic Workers...more NWU: GOV'T MUST COME CLEAN ON CLICO 1) The amount of money spent to date on Clico. This should include initial and operating costs: bailout, legal, consultancy, costs to policy holders etc. 2) Outstanding issues that remain to be dealt with e.g. court and ongoing procedural matters. What are the projected costs to conclude these matters? 3) A list of all of the assets that have been acquired and also any that have been disposed of. 4) A detailed breakdown of all revenues earned from the operations including dividends, interest, rents, sales etc. 5) A list of all costings, valuations, analyses etc done on the assets. 6) Decisions government has taken in relation to the assets....more CARRINGTON BAN LIFTED The decision of the Ministry of Education (MOE) to debar TTUTA’s 2nd Vice President, Mr. Orville Carrington from entry into the compound of the Head Office of the MOE has been revoked. As well, the allegation of verbal abuse of a junior female employee of the MOE some two (2) months ago by Mr. Carrington has been found to be groundless and, in fact, a case of mistaken identity...more CUBA SAYS FAREWELL It was with profound and searing grief that our people and the Revolutionary Government learned about the decease of President Hugo Chávez Frías and are therefore preparing to pay a heartfelt and patriotic tribute to him, for he will go down in history as a Hero of Our America...more  TTUTA: LIFT CARRINGTON BAN! Peter Wilson states: "TTUTA will not allow Dr. Gopeesingh or any Minister of Education to deny or erode its rights as a trade union in defence of its members. TTUTA will reject any attempt by the Minister or his agents to attempt to ‘set up’ its 2nd Vice President. TTUTA will continue to vigorously and fearlessly defend its members and promote education."...more HRM DEFENDS HRC REPORT The Highway Reroute Movement appeals to the Prime Minister:"We appeal to you to forbid the state officials concerned from attempting to further besmirch the review process, the review, and the writers of the review. The public deserves clarity, transparency, accuracy and fairness. We encourage you to convince state officials at NIDCO, the Ministry of Works and the government at large to support and defend this important document."...more NWU STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH TTUTA NWU calls upon all those who defend trade union rights and democracy to stand in solidarity with TTUTA and warns the government that the trade union movement will not stand idly by and allow the rights it has won through struggle to be undermined by any transient government with fascist tendencies...more TTUTA PICKETS MINISTRY ON MONDAY The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) has organised a picket at the office of the Ministry of Education on Monday March 04, 2013 at 10:00am. The purpose of the picket is to show complete dissatisfaction regarding the Minister of Education's order to debar 2nd Vice President Orville Carrington's entry into the Mininstry's office. DAVE SMITH: END RECOGNITION NIGHTMARE! National Workers Union's General Secretary, Dave Smith, explains why it is vital that the trade union movement campaign for reform of the process through which workers win union recognition...more MINISTRY STARVES PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF SUPPLIES The National Primary Schools Principals Association (NAPSPA) is forced to bring to the attention of the national community the distressing situation that has been existing, and continues to exist, in all primary schools in Trinidad for some time now. Schools have not received any school supplies from the Ministry of Education since September 2011...more TRIBUTE TO ASTILL ALLEYNE Gregory Rousseau writes: Here was a man, totally committed to ensuring that the mas continued to exist with substance and meaning, and not the plastic, empty, repetitive nonsense what I describe as the bikini and fries trash...more NWU WELCOMES JTUM COSSABO ON PRIVATISATION The NWU is of the strong conviction that just as the challenge facing the labour movement over the last two years has been that of breaking the government-imposed wage cap, the challenge facing the labour movement now is that of beating back and stopping in its tracks the government’s stated policy position of divestment/privatisation...more CAUSE OF DEATH BY MAJORITY VOTE! Rae Samuel writes:"...this is a most opportune time to press for social change. You do not have to convince anyone that the social order has broken down. I think far too many "leaders" are shying away from the task of creating a new social order which is infinitely more challenging and complex than condemning the old one."...more IN PRAISE OF CHAVEZ Venezuelan Ambassador, Coromoto Godoy states:"The Patriotic Civic Military Rebellion of 1992, in which approximately two thousand three hundred (2,300) young soldiers were led by Hugo Chavez, inspired by the deep thought and emancipation of Simon Bolivar, to raise the awareness of the people marked the beginning of the XXI (21st ) century in Venezuelan history. On that day Bolivar returned to stay."...more HOOPS AND HURDLES FOR LIFE Rae Samuel writes:"Maybe I should go under my bed, pull out my spikes and run as far and as fast as I can before I throw up on some innocent bystander."...more THE NFFA STORY  Progressives, students, researchers and all those interested in the true history of the mass movement in T&T should famiiarise themselves with this story...more A POLICED STATE Burton Sankeralli writes: "...when white people do it to white people it’s called fascism, when white people do it to black people that is called colonialism – or is it the civilizing mission? When black people do it to white people is terrorism. But what do we call it when white people set up black people to do it to black people? Democracy?"...more SCOBIE: WE HAVE THE IDEAS Rae Samuel interviews Michael "Brother Scobie" Joseph, President of the Southern Marines Steelband Foundation of Marabella Trinidad, on his election as the Chairman of the South Central Region of Pan Trinbago. The interview took place in December 2012...more BIGWU: WE MUST FACE 2013 BOLDLY Vincent Cabrera states: "we call on the trade union movement to intensify the campaign for reform of labour legislation. Trinidad and Tobago continues to have on its statutes many items of legislation which can only be described as archaic"...more CWU: CLEAR THE AIR AT TSTT! John Julien, Secretary General of the Communications Workers' Union, writes: The Communication Workers’ Union would like to publicly express its grave concern over the apparent Leadership Crisis that is bedevilling the State Enterprise, Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT)...more TTUTA REVEALS FINAL YEAR SALARIES Negotiations began in March 2010 (fifteen months after the beginning of the contract period) and teachers had to resort to embarking on days of “rest and reflection” and huge demonstrations to push the negotiations forward in the face of intransigence by the Chief Personnel Officer which resulted in the negotiations taking way much longer than they should...more TIWU: HANDS OFF MTS; SETTLE TEACHERS’ NEGOTIATIONS NOW!  TTUTA DEMO CANCELLED!  DOMESTIC WORKERS CALL FOR RESPECT On December 12th 2012, the National Union of Domestic Employees (NUDE) held a function at its headquarters in Arima to sensitise the public to the situation facing domestic workers and to gather support for its call for the government to ratify ILO Convention 189 which deals with rights and protection for domestic workers...more NUDE: RATIFY CONVENTION 189 NOW! We are calling all women and men who do Domestic Work whether paid or unpaid, to join us in the call for Government to Ratify the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work For Domestic Workers...more 4OTH ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH CUBA  CWU CONVENTION TACKLES PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS "...the owners of capital change their skin like the proverbial chameleon; we are now seeing the specter of privatization and divestment now cloaked in another masquerade, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS"...more TEACHERS TO MARCH ON DECEMBER 17TH The General Council of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teahers Association has scheduled a massive protest march for Monday December 17th 2012, the first Monday after the clo  The General Council has also advised teachers to prepare for days of rest and reflection during the first week of the next school term, beginning on January 7th 2013. PSA's ROBINSON, BEDASSIE ON REINSTATEMENT Rosanna Robinson and Rendy Bedassie spoke to Comrade Rae Samuel of the National Workers Union on December 4th 2012 about their reinstatement to the executive of the Public Services Association (PSA) by order of Justice Joan Charles delivered on November 29th...more CALLS FOR DRASTIC ACTION AS TTUTA GENERAL COUNCIL NEARS The CPO’s refusal to budge is seen by many teachers as a virtual slap in the face in light of the union lowering its salary demand at the marathon meeting between parties on Friday 30th November...more OATHS, EDICTS AND EAT A FOOD
Burton Sankeralli writes:"Now if we accept the centrality of community this means opening up dialogue involving all our communities not issuing edicts and parroting oaths. This involves a just, intelligent, inclusive transparent process"...more
TILTING
AT WINDMILLS
Lloyd Taylor writes: "At the core of Kublalsingh's protests are not the protest per se, but the deficiencies in the institutions of governance that are required to give the citizen-patriots ownership of the decision-making process that affects their lives and livelihoods."..more
ROGER TOUSSAINT SUPPORTS HIGHWAY REVIEW
 On November 28th, 2012, Trinidadian Roger Toussaint, former President of Transport Workers Union Local 100 (2001-2009)who led the strike that shut down the subways and buses in New York in 2005 sent the following message...more THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS HIT THE STREETS!
 Largely female, spanning the full age range, they came from all corners of the republic: from the South East, the East, Victoria, Caroni, the West, Port of Spain and Tobago. On this day they were not urban, rural, primary, secondary, male, female, Indian, African, Other, PNM, UNC, COP. They were simply teachers!...more
ALL TRINIDAD MUST REGAIN ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE
Nirvan Maharaj states: "Labour will always fail if we continue to sacrifice the interest of the working class on the altar of pettiness and political expediency. Labour must never have to depend on gifts or handouts from any politician or political party"...more
MORE IN THE MORTAR
Trevor Sudama writes: "I return to my original observation that too many vested interests with designs on the Treasury are involved and must be accommodated- whether officials receiving kick-backs, investors in land along the proposed Highway route, contractors large and small who have already calculated their handsome profits, suppliers of aggregate at inflated prices especially that which is imported and the commissions of intermediaries, truck owners, financiers, consultants and sundry favoured beneficiaries"...more
MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS
Do Kamla and company not realise that their disgraceful hubris-filled performance in Debe’s Monday Night Forum revealed for all to see their authoritarian, indeed fascist tendencies, which have the potential to put a political sheen on the chaos and violence that already besets this country...more
TTUTA CALLS OUT THE TROOPS
Consistent with the decision of the General Council, TTUTA calls on all teachers to join a massive protest march through the streets of Port of Spain on Thursday November 29, 2012...more
RAG, TRINI ECO WARRIORS TO PICKET CANADIAN EMBASSY The Rights Action Group, Trini Eco warriors and other environmnetal activists will picket the Canadian Embassy on Tuesday 27th November at 10:30 am...more
NWU: REPEAL ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES SCHEDULE!
The National Workers Union (NWU) has sent to the Industrial Relations Advisory Committee (IRAC), for its consideration, a policy paper, prepared by the NWU entitled THE IMPACT OF “ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY CATEGORIES” ON WORKERS RIGHTS.The paper has also been sent to all unions for their information...more
CWU: NO TO C&W John Julien states: "We wish to restate our intentions to see TSTT as a fully owned State Entity, structured and organised as a viable and sustainable organisation working for the interest of its employees, the shareholder and the citizens of our twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago"...more
TEACHERS PREPARE TO MARCH The General Council of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association states: "Teachers should be alert to the call of the General Council, continue on a high level of mobilization and stand ready for further action and reflection in the days and weeks ahead"...more
TTUTA GOES TO WAR After four hours of deliberation on Wednesday 14th November, the General Council of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has decided on a campaign of direct action to force the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) to shift her position in her negotiations with TTUTA...more
RAG SUPPORTS CUBAN FIVE Burton Sankeralli of the Rights Action Group writes: "It is very disturbing that still even while its power is waning, the present imperialism is clinging to its longstanding gangster tactics. But even there we see new winds are blowing. Even there the people are rising up and seeking to "occupy" the forces of enslavement oppression exploitation."...more FROM THE GROUND UP Dr. Godfrey Vincent writes: "The coalition supporting Obama won because of the power of community organizing, Occupy Wall Street, the fight back of Labor in Ohio and Wisconsin, the Nuns on the bus tour, the Latino Tsunami, the fight back of women, the African-American Tsunami, and the Youth Tsunami."...more HORACE NORAY DIES
NWU: TIME TO UPDATE TRADE UNION ACT
Originally promulgated in 1932, the National Workers Union argues that this old colonial legislation needs completely updating ... more REMEMBER JAHAAJEE MASSACRE
The procession moved along to San Fernando. Chants filled the air, Tassa broadcast the spirit of the Jahajees, Then, suddenly! Burst of buck shots joined the rhythm of the tassa drums. Cries of pain and confusion rent the air. Gun smoke…blood…death...more
THROUGH THE EYES OF OTHERS Rae Samuel of the National Workers Union talks to a number of people about the impact the late Joe Young had on the labour movement...more
NWU CALLS FOR MEETING WITH RRCB
On 19th October 2012, the General Secretry of the National Workers Union, Comrade Dave Smith wrote to the Acting Secretaryof the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board (RRCB). The letter was copied to all members of the Recognition Board and to all unions...more POSTAL WORKERS PICKET CPO
"We will make ourselves visible. We will make ourselves heard."...more
WE ARE NOT ACTORS IN SOMEONE'S PLAY Rafiki Morris writes: "In the real world, where people are not props and communities are not backdrops, there is always something to paint"...more NFFA CONDEMNS ASSAULT ON GLEN RAMJAG
The National Foodcrop Farmers’ Association (NFFA) condemns in the harshest and strongest terms the brutal and unjustified beating of its Vice-President Glen Ramjag, by a security guard at the HiLo Supermarket compound in St. Augustine on 9th October 2012...more
JTUM SLAMS MCLEOD
JTUM states: "Bearing in mind that several of our Unions have matters at the Ministry of Labour we now find ourselves in a precarious position where we no longer feel that these matters can be impartially conciliated. We recognize that the Minister‘s position is identical to those of the Employers’ organizations and therefore brings his role as an impartial conciliator sharply into question."...more PLEA TO SAVE ST. MARTINS
Helen Weekes writes: "I would think that as members of the “cloth” honesty would be first and foremost in this situation." ...more
CUBAN VISIT On Monday October 15th delegates from the Banking and Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU), the Transport and Industrial Workers Union (TIWU) and the National Workers Union (TIWU) met with Comrade Joaquin Lacke Portuondo, representative of the Cuban Government based in the Latin American and Caribbean Division...more COMETH THE MOVEMENT Burton Sankeralli writes: "never in our entire history since the imposition of fraudulent independence has this two-party regime been in such crisis. It is on the verge of entirely losing all credibility if it has not done so already."...more
JTUM: JACK WARNER MUST GO! "If we did not know before, the country must now know that the Minister of National Security is a serious threat to the democracy and freedoms guaranteed under our constitution. He has proven himself to be tyrant and runaway horse and seem to believe that he can do and say anything without any accountability and repercussion."...more
FITUN RENEWS CALL: WARNER MUST GO
Joseph Remy, on behalf of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGO's states: "...if the Prime Minister continues to ignore the glaring signs that Minister Warner is unfit for his current post then it stands to reason that the population can only assume that the Prime Minister and the rest of the Cabinet stand firm with Minister Warner and his disregard for the rule of law and his surreptitious intentions"...more
JOE YOUNG: LAST MAN STANDING
Raffique Shah writes: Over three meetings, all other members decided that in the interest of the party, they would defer to Panday. Two held our ground—Joe and I. Amidst adjournments and persuasion, I buckled. The issue was put to the vote and I sheepishly supported it. Joe didn't. He was the last man standing, on principle. I need add, he was later vindicated when Panday "mash up" the original ULF anyway...more
JOE YOUNG: A RADICAL TRADE UNION LEADER Dr. James Millette writes: From its very beginning, therefore, TIWU has been a radical trade union organization led by a radical trade union leadership. Its mission has always been to provide credible and reliable representation to the unrepresented, and better and honest representation to the badly represented. For that, Joe Young deserves enormous credit: for his consistency, and for his constancy of purpose and direction...more
NWU: NO TO HEALTH CARE PRIVATISATION
The National Workers Union warns the working people of T&T not to be distracted by the circus being staged by UNCOPNM as they stuff their bellies full with the fat of the land, while we struggle to keep our heads above water in the face of their attack on our standard of living and our quality of life...more
JTUM: BUDGET A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT
The Joint Trade union Movement has issued a media release outlining their analysis of the 2012-2013 budget...more NWU: BUDGET SHOWS PP CLASS BIAS
The National Workers Union advises that this will only end when the People of this country decide to break the cycle of turning to one or the other group of white collar bandits and political hustlers and refuse to allow ourselves to continue being divided on issues such as race and intervene on the important issues which determine our lives and shape them in our interest...more
PAUL: BE AWARE OF CNG PROBLEMS
Comrade Cecil Paul, Deputy President of the National Workers Union (NWU) talks to Rae Samuel about the use of compressed natural gas (CNG)...more THE MIGHTY JOE YOUNG
To many of us who were youths in the 1960’s and 70’s, we remember Joe Young in his green dashiki strolling tall and strong through the streets of the City to get justice for workers; leading Bus Workers in struggle on South Quay Bus terminus (now City Gate); demanding that the Government repeal the Industrial Stabilisation Act (ISA)...more
JOE YOUNG AND THE SAGA OF THE BUS WORKERS TIWU’s president declared, “The decision of the Industrial Court on the bus workers matter in March, 1969 was an open invitation for struggle; it had in it all the ingredients necessary for a strike: a poor wage award; and the elimination of some benefits previously enjoyed by workers"...more
LAST RITES FOR JOE YOUNG
The funeral of the late great labour leader, Joe Young, the founder of the Transport and Industrial Workers Union, will be held on Monday 8th October 2012...more
BIGWU: JOE YOUNG, OUTSTANDING LABOUR LEADER
Comrade Mario Als, Deputy President of BIGWU recalls Joe as a Labour Leader who “ represented a beacon of light to young trade unionists like myself… we could turn to him for advice on any on Industrial Relations matter, the history of the Trade Union Movement or the IRA… you were certain to get positive and revolutionary direction from him… a lot of which is still relevant today.”...more
FUEL SUBSIDY? WHAT FUEL SUBSIDY? Comrade Cecil Paul spoke to NWU's Rae Samuel about the move by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to reduce the fuel "subsidy"...more
LABOUR HERO JOE YOUNG DIES Joe Young, along with George Weekes, stood as a giant of the labour movement in the post-independence period of T&T. He led the fight to nationalise the bus transport system in the country and TIWU could rightly be considered as being responsible for the formation of the PTSC...more STATEMENT OF NORMANDIE MEETING
Declaration of cooperation of civil society in the interest of good governance in the republic of Trinidad and Tobago...more
NWU: STRUGGLE IS TO BREAK THE POWER OF CAPITAL So we go from tweedle dum to tweedle dee (PNM/NAR; PNM/UNC; PNM/PP) and through our trade union leaders we try to feed from the scraps of the overseers’ table. While we fight up for “good governance” and switch from Bim to Bam, the power structure remains in place – the conglomerates, financial smartmen and transnational corporations continue to rule the roost...more CUBAN AMBASSADOR VISITS NWU OFFICE The Cuban Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago His Excellency Humberto Rivero Rosario paid a visit to the office of the National Workers Union (NWU) at Barataria on Friday September 28, 2012...more
CWU'S JULIEN: BE WARY OF PNM MOVES
CWU is also very skeptical of moves by the PNM to befriend and join hands with the Trade Union Movement in this time of national crisis; a crisis which we believe was created collectively by the Parliament. We cannot allow them to pursue and promote their own political agenda, especially when the CWU as an organisation witnessed the threat of decortication under the Governance of the said PNM...more
THE SCOTT DRUG REPORT
The report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Extent of the Problem of Drug Abuse in Trinidad and Tobago, which is available for download, is a significant marker in assessing the development of organised crime and exposes graphically the venality and criminality that has characterised the security services and the political elites and that is a thousand times worse now than in the 1980’s when the report was done...more
JTUM, ROWLEY OPEN DISCUSSIONS
BUILDING A CAPITALIST CULTURE
The current scandal is but a manifestation of the capitalist culture, which is being played out in the “highest court in the land”. The concerns that are being articulated by the Leader of the Opposition have more to do with form and less to do with content. That is to say, he is concerned that the crude actions of the PP government, in handling the matter of Section 34 (3) of the Indictable Offences Act, could give capitalism a bad name...more
DOMESTICS REGISTER SET UP The Ministry of Labour Small and Micro Enterprise Development hosted a function on Friday 21st September to launch a National Register of Domestic Workers...more HISTORIC BIRCH KELMAN INTERVIEW
This website is pleased to re-publish the following interview which was published in the newspaper of the Committee for Labour Solidarity: HOLD THE FORT ((Vol. 3 no. 4 June 1985). This website thinks the interview is worth reproducing for its historical and cultural value.
This interview may quite well be the first done by “Birch” Kelman...more INTEREST GROUPS DEMAND RESPECT FROM DOUGLAS
As an elected representative of the people of Lopinot/Bon Air West, Dr. Douglas requires a certain respect, as the elected representatives of the three main branches of Carnival, we expect nothing less ... more
VENEZUELA ENACTS NEW LABOUR LAW
The Venezuelan government has enacted a new Organic Law of Work and Workers which has been under discussion in both the national assembly and by workers and movements since
2003. The law contains 554 articles. The website Venezuelanalysis.com has published a detailed chapter by chapter summary of the law ... more by Dennis Olivier
STOP THE PRIVATISATION HOG TROUGH
The National Workers Union in its June 19th Labour Day statement 'repeats its calls made on February 9th 2012 and April 20th 2012 for the convening of an all union Conference of Shop Stewards and Branch Officers (COSSABO) to “discuss the implications
WANTED: A PARTY OF THE WORKING CLASS
Sylvester Mclaren writes: "The Party of the Working Class is not an ordinary party. It is different from the other parties and those differences are spelt out in its policies and programmes. Its ideological position is founded on working class principles which were spelt out by working people before Marx and Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto. It is a party of the workers, by the workers, for the workers, to which persons who subscribe to the ideology of the class may belong."...more
LYLE TOWNSEND: HERO OF LABOUR
Cecil Paul writes: "With the mantra “Dare To Struggle, Dare to Win”, Comrade Lyle Townsend’s influence on the CWU was both profound and beneficial to its members. The Union gained respect and workers greatly increased their salaries/wages and benefits from mediocre to one of the highest and better packages of benefits in Trinbago."...more
NWU REMEMBERS LYLE TOWNSEND
Known for his integrity and his refusal to be seduced by the blandishments of the employers, Comrade Townsend stayed true to the philosophy of advancing, protecting and defending workers interests through militant, indeed, uncompromising struggle...more BIGWU HEAD SLAMS EX-BPTT BOSS!
In a media statement dated April 26th 2012, Vincent Cabrera, President of the Banking Insurance and General Workers' Union (BIGWU) attacked proposals put forward by Robert Riley, Ex-President of BPTT for the privatisation of health care and prisons...more MAHA SABHA TRIES TO BLOCK TTUTA
TTUTA Officials, in visiting schools to deliver TTUTA material for the upcoming TTUTA 'Staff Representatives Day' and Staff Representatives’ Elections on April 26 have been prevented from making this delivery or communicating with the current TTUTA Staff Representatives by principals at some SDMS schools.
These principals have claimed that at a meeting with the Secretary of the SDMS Board, Mr. Sat Maharaj, they received verbal ‘instructions’ that TTUTA officials and/or TTUTA material were not to be allowed into SDMS Schools without the express approval of the Board...more ORGANISE THE UN-ORGANISED!
JOIN THE NATIONAL WORKERS UNION!
National Workers Union, 43 Fifth Street, Barataria, Trinidad and Tobago Tel.: (868) 223-4698; Fax: (868) 223-4697; Email: headoffice@workersunion.org.tt |  Feeling exploited ... under paid ... pushed around ... ignored? Then you must be a worker! Just think about it. Who decides if you get a job, what pay you get, if you have any vacation, if you get fired. It's simple: the employer ... your boss. This is nothing new. Workers and employers have never been equal. That's why workers have always formed and joined trade unions. It's the only way we can get a voice ... get some power with which to fightback and look after OUR interests. More information on how the National Workers Union can help you get organised can be found here.
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