Media Releases (National Workers Union)

Media Releases

These are the Media releases recently issued by the Union.

BIGWU TO ANNISETTE

posted 10 Mar 2010 15:51 by Gerry Kangalee [ updated 10 Mar 2010 15:56 ]

BIGWU TELLS ANNISETTE SUPPORT PSA

The following letter was sent to Senator Michael Annisette, President of the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) by the executive committee of the Banking Insurance and General Workers’ Union ( BIGWU). It is dated March 5th 2010 and is signed by the President of BIGWU, Comrade Vincent Cabrera, who is also the Secretary of NATUC.

RE; TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO REVENUE AUTHORITY (TTRA) BILL

“I have been instructed by the executive of the Banking Insurance and General Workers’ Union to write to you to seek your support for the position of the Public Services Association when the bill referred to above comes up for debate in the national senate.

We call on you to do this in keeping with trade union principles of solidarity. If a similar position develops at the Port Authority for example trade unions will be expected to support the Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union position on the matter. Similarly, if a situation develops at the First Citizens’ Bank trade unions would be expected to support the Banking Insurance and General Workers’ Union on the matter. There is also international precedence for lending support to the representative workers’ organisation.

Having considered the intentions of the Government in relation to the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) and Customs and Excise Department we have determined that the two major reasons advanced by the government for the establishment of the TTRA is productivity and corruption. We reject these two reasons.

Firstly, while there is always room for improvement of productivity, productivity levels have not been measured within BIR and Customs and Excise. Figures published by the Central Bank indicate that national productivity figures have outstripped the level of wage increases over the last decade. A recent study of twenty (20) Organizations for Economic Co-operation and Development economies over a twenty year period by two Dutch economists found that labour productivity growth was higher in economies having more highly regulated industrial relations systems.

Under the TTRA it would be far easier to fire workers since the due process afforded by the Public Services Commission would be removed. The TTRA will exercise a less regulated industrial relations system.

In terms of corruption, checks and balances should be improved to ensure that corruption does not take place. We are not aware that co-determination exists within the public sector so it is the responsibility of the management to deal with corruption.

Further, if we support the establishment of the TTRA, we will be forced to support the further dismantling of the entire public service. The BIGWU, therefore, is unable to support the establishment of the TTRA and we support the PSA in its struggle in relation to this matter."

| Attachments: 10.03.05-BIGWU_letter_to_Annisette.PDF

TIWU ON UDECOTT

posted 8 Mar 2010 18:45 by Gerry Kangalee [ updated 8 Mar 2010 18:48 ]

TIWU: Udecott Board Must Resign

2010-03-08

The Executive Committee of the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) at its statutory meeting of 2010-03-08 noted with keen interest the resignation of Calder Hart from all the state boards and, in particular, from his position as Executive Chairman of UDECOTT.

The executive committee noted with concern but not surprise that Calder Hart had apparently fled the country in the wake of his resignation.

The executive committee believes that a full scale criminal investigation must be launched into the operation of UDECOTT.

The executive committee calls upon the remaining board members of UDECOTT to resign immediately.

The executive committee warns the government that the people of Trinidad and Tobago are highly agitated over the implications of the UDECOTT affair and will not be content with any mamaguy investigation meant to obfuscate the issues, cover up wrong doing and protect wrong doers, whether at the level of the UDECOTT board and/or management or at the level of the political directorate.

Judy Charles
General Secretary

NWU: ANNISETTE MUST GO!

posted 7 Mar 2010 19:00 by Gerry Kangalee

NATIONAL WORKERS' UNION: ANNISETTE MUST GO!

The National Workers’ Union (NWU) calls upon the member unions of the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) to dismiss Senator Michael Annisette from his post as President of NATUC.

The NWU is not a member of NATUC, but as a component part of the labour movement we view with great anger and deep disgust the position adopted by Senator Annisette against the campaign launched by the Public Services Association (PSA) to defend its members at the Board of Inland Revenue and the Customs and Excise Department.

The move by the Government to establish the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority Management Company Ltd. (TTRA) will result in the retrenchment of nearly 2,000 workers at the Board of Inland Revenue and the Customs and Excise Department and will effectively de-recognise the PSA and the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) as the Recognised Majority Unions for these workers.

Yet Senator Annisette goes on record as defending the establishment of this so-called special purpose state enterprise which will clear the way for the same approach to be adopted at the Licensing Department, the Highways and Drainage Divisions of the Ministry of Works as well as local government as the government moves to emasculate the public service with disastrous consequences for public sector workers as to their job security and loss of union representation.

Not only does Annisette defend the establishment of the TTRA, but he disparages the mobilisation of PSA members by their leadership in defence of their job security.

Senator Annisette is clearly an avid supporter of the anti-working class neo-liberal economic policies of the PNM government and can be counted upon to put the interests of the neo-colonial regime above those of the very working class whose interests he is supposed to defend as President of NATUC.

The labour movement in this country can no longer afford to tolerate this charade. The first duty of the trade union movement is to defend, protect and advance the interests of its members. The biggest problem faced by workers today in both the public and private sectors is the problem of job security. Any trade union leader who fails to defend the job security of workers is a fifth columnist and must be viewed as an enemy of the working class and should be treated as such.

| Attachments: 10.03.06-Annisette_Must_Go.doc

posted 7 Mar 2010 18:53 by Gerry Kangalee [ updated 7 Mar 2010 18:57 ]

GUYANA UNION'S PRESENTATION TO RECOGNITION BOARD

posted 17 Jan 2010 14:05 by Gerry Kangalee [ updated 17 Jan 2010 14:08 ]

Presentation made to the Trade Union Recognition & Certification Board

by the

Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union

Ministry of Labour

82 Brickdam

Georgetown

January 12, 2009

Today the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) is engaging the Trade Union Recognition & Certification Board (TURB), a legally constituted body under the Laws of Guyana with full anticipation that the decisions made by the body are legally binding and will be honoured by all involved. The matter before the TURB is about the Laws of Guyana, and the respect for workers and individual’s rights consistent with these laws. The prism of race and political affiliation which appear to be underpinning events that took place in this industrial dispute are unfortunate, and we hope that such undertones will have no part in influencing the application of laws and rights within the ambit of the TURB. GB&GWU recognises that laws and rights are not social constructs that people beg for rather they are time honoured principles entrenched in modern society evolving from ancient civilizations and peoples struggles, to become essential rudiments of social structures defining human interaction and protecting the powerless from those who would abuse their power or the dominion they have over others. The TURB has the constitutional mandate to adjudicate without fear and favour.

We state below the matter of the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and the Bauxite Company Guyana Inc. (BCGI) where the Union charges that BCGI and the Minister of Labour are involved in acts inimical to the best interest of Bauxite workers, the communities of which they are a part and the peace and stability of the industrial sector. These are manifest in the following:

The refusal of the Bauxite Company Guyana Inc. (BCGI) to meet with the Union to discuss matters pertaining to workers’ welfare in as much as there exists a legal Certificate of Recognition between the parties;

The company’s actions of coercing members of the Union to sign a company prepared petition to request a poll with a view of de-recognising the Union under Section 31 of the Trade Union Recognition Act, Chapter 98:07, and;
In light of public statements reported in the Stabroek News, January 2, 2010 where the Minister of Labour said the Ministry has not conducted an investigation to determine whether the signatures were taken fairly and not under duress yet opined that it “may indicate that those signatures were gotten of free will.”

The approach to the Trade Union Recognition & Certification Board is first and foremost determined by the Trade Union Recognition Law Part II (11) which specifically says: “The Board shall be charged with responsibility as more specifically set out under Part III for the determination of all applications and matters concerning the certification of trade unions as recognised majority unions.”

In the said Act attention is drawn to the Issue and contents of certificates:

22. (1) The Board shall issue a certificate under its seal to the union and to the employer in every case in which it certifies a trade union as the recognised majority union.

22. (2) The certificate shall contain a statement of the following particulars -

(a)    the name of the employer and the trade union thereby certified;
(b)    the category or categories of workers comprised in the bargaining unit;
(c)    the number of workers comprised in the bargaining unit at the relevant date; and
(d)    such other matters as may be prescribed

And

Compulsory recognition and duty to treat.:

23. (1) Where a trade union obtains a certificate of recognition for workers comprised in a bargaining unit in accordance with this Part, the employer shall recognise the union, and the union and the employer shall bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations with each other for the purpose of collective bargaining.”

Consistent with the laws the Trade Union Recognition & Certification Board under its seal has issued a Certification of Recognition for a specific group of workers employed by the Bauxite Company Guyana Inc. A copy of this certificate forms Appendix I of this document.

The Union’s position is that BCGI is in breach of this Act by refusing to engage the Union as stipulated under Section 23 (1) of the law. By letter dated December 1, 2009, BCGI wrote the Union informing it that it has terminated the Collective Labour Agreement and will put mechanism in place to have the Union de-recognised. This letter forms Appendix II.

Chapter 98:07 has vested the authority for Trade Union Recognition and more so the determination as to which union will bargain on behalf of workers in any entity in the Trade Union Recognition & Certification Board established under this Act.

The coercion of workers to sign a petition emanated from BCGI’s decision communicated in letter dated December 1, 2009 to put mechanism in place to de-recognise the Union. The Minister’s public statement as reported in Stabroek News, January 2, 2010 that “I can’t say as gospel, that it may indicate that those signatures were gotten of free will” even as he admitted that his ministry did not conduct an investigation to determine if the signatures were taken fairly and not under duress, raises serious questions as to the intent of the ministry. The company’s petition forms Appendix III.

Workers have indicated that they were approached by supervisors and management representatives to the sign the petition because the company will be getting a new union to represent them. A number of employees have indicated to the Union by way of a signed document that they were approached by representative of the management to sign the company’s prepared petition. To protect these employees from being victimized this document will not form an appendix to this memorandum but a copy will be given to the Chairman of the Board in whom we have implicit and would use this information to advise his colleagues while protecting Bauxite workers from further workplace victimization.

There is an agreement between the company and its employees who are members of the Union for a weekly deduction of Union dues from their wages and to have same remitted to the GB&GWU. BCGI has arbitrarily ceased the deduction while the agreement says that the deduction will be ceased based on an authorized revocation form submitted by the worker/member to the company.

These acts constitute serious violations of the law and the Union charge today that the company is culpable under the Offences by employers which states:

“26. (2) An employer shall not -

(a) make the employment of a worker subject to the condition -that he shall or shall not .become a member of a trade union or shall relinquish his membership of a trade union;

(c) with intent to dissuade or prevent a worker from becoming such officer, delegate or member, or from so appearing or giving evidence, threaten to dismiss him, or to affect his employment adversely or to alter his position to his prejudice by reason of the circumstances that the worker is or proposes to become, an officer, delegate or member of a trade union, or that worker proposes to appear as a witness or to give evidence in any proceeding under this Act.”

Consistent with the law BCGI has no authority to terminate a Collective Labour Agreement between itself and the GB&GWU. Signaling its intent to move to have the Recognition Agreement terminated should also be noted. The Union has taken the opportunity to bring these grave transgressions to the Board’s attention and wishes to make it abundantly clear that until such time that the TURB has taken a decision consistent with the Laws that the Union no longer represenst the workers as prescribed under the Certificate issued by this Board dated 4 April 2008, the GB&GWU is the recognised Bargaining Agent and as such we call on you to use your authority vested in the Act Part II (11) to have all concomitant agreements respected and upheld.

This case as we define is a clear attack on workers’ rights and the rule of law. The GB&GWU therefore sees no reason why this matter should not be treated with the urgency it deserves to ensure that BCGI and all other parties involved/concerned respect the rule of law and workers’ rights.

Today we look for the triumph of laws and justice over ethnic/racial, political and/or other forms of discrimination. GB&GWU anticipates the TURB's impartial intervention but warns that nothing short of justice and fair play will be accepted for the cause of the Bauxite workers is just and right in keeping with the Laws of Guyana Chapter 98:07 which entrenches the right of GB&GWU as the recognised union and to bargain on behalf of the workers.

Thank you,

Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union

NWU SOLIDARITY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT OF GUYANA BAUXITE UNION

posted 10 Dec 2009 06:17 by Gerry Kangalee [ updated 11 Dec 2009 05:43 by Dave Smith ]

The National Workers Union (NWU) of Trinidad and Tobago extends solidarity to the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GBGWU) as you face the pernicious move by the predominantly Russian –owned management of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) to “derecognise” your union.

This is a major threat to the survival of your union and indeed to the survival of trade unionism in Guyana. The NWU condemns in the strongest terms this grave threat to trade unionism by the Russian management of the company who represent the interest of RUSAL, the world’s largest producer of aluminium and alumina.

The NWU is of the view that the government of Guyana which owns ten per cent of the company should adopt a firm position on this issue and counsel the Russian management to allow good sense to prevail.

This issue is of major interest to trade unions in Trinidad and Tobago. Quite recently two parastatal organisations, the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) and the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) attempted to decertify the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) and the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) respectively.

Their attempts had to be withdrawn when the trade unions united and condemned the attempts in a vigorous and militant faction, making it clear to the government that it was not going to be tolerated. Interestingly, like the BCGI, TSTT is partly foreign owned, though unlike in your case, the government of T&T has majority ownership.

It is noteworthy that both foreign and state capitalists in the Caribbean have attempted to deprive workers of trade union membership emphasising the position that all employers thrive on the exploitatio0n and suppression of labour. This is a worrying development and close attention should be paid to this new trend in industrial relations.

The NWU calls upon the government of Guyana to put an immediate stop to the move to derecognise the GBGWU. The NWU urges the Guyana Trade Unions Congress to mobilise its resources to halt this attack on the very concept of trade unionism. The NWU stands firm with the GBGWU as it fights to beat back this vicious attack not only on itself but on trade unions everywhere.

CONGRATS TO PAN TRINBAGO

posted 23 Nov 2009 08:57 by Gerry Kangalee

CONGRATS TO PAN TRINBAGO

The National Workers' Union (NWU) extends congratulations to Pan Trinbago on the holding of its recent executive elections.

The NWU further extends congratulations to new president of the world governing body for Pan, Keith Diaz and all the officers who have been elected to run this important organisation for the next period.

NWU is convinced that the body charged with guiding the development of our national instrument will do all in its power to ensure that the instrument and the movement is defended, protected and advanced.

Is Indentureship well and alive in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009?

posted 15 Oct 2009 02:05 by Gerry Kangalee [ updated 15 Oct 2009 07:38 ]

by Norris Deonarine, Rights Action Group Tel: 774-1276

It is with great distress that I read and heard of the facedown between the Police and foreign Chinese labourers yesterday.

The news stories painted an even more horrific picture. There were photographs of police officers dressed in full riot gear, body armour, gas masks, carrying sub-machine guns, and canisters of tear gas. And, the reason for this overkill was a peaceful march by about 70 protesting foreign Chinese workers who were walking along a highway and then sitting on grass verges.

It is a frightening concept to accept that in this day and age, the state machinery can be used to suppress peoples’ rights to peaceful protest for their basic rights. And, we should not presume that workers from all parts of the world do not have the same basic rights whether or not their countries have ratified the international conventions enshrining basic rights for all. T and T is a signatory and that is what matters.

There are major and legitimate concerns about the influx of Chinese workers and the impact on local employment opportunities. Don’t blame the Chinese workers for that. At the same time, we ought to be concerned about the rights of poor people who have come from thousands of miles away to earn some money to take back home at the end of their contracts with firms that are closely affiliated with if not owned outright by their own State – China. Decades ago, peoples from the Caribbean followed a similar economic pattern, moving to Aruba, Maracaibo, Panama, the US, Canada and the UK. Surely, we are saddened when we hear of the hardships they endured as foreign workers. Should we not feel the same way about other poor people desperate to escape poverty in their own homeland?

The thing is that the Chinese workers here are probably totally ignorant of the PNM’s policies on rapid and corrupt development. They probably did not read Selwyn Ryan’s article on Sunday last – ―Many of the edificial modernisation projects are now seen for what they are - empty monuments to hubris.‖ They are probably not aware that back home, their compatriots are agitating against dangerous smelters that are ruining their lives as they have concerns similar to the people of La Brea and T&T about the Alutrint smelter. However, they feel the pain of the criminality rampant in this country. They feel the pain of living in cramped quarters with little utilities, isolated almost as hostages, passports withheld, working under slavery-like and indentureship conditions, on top of not receiving their pittance pay on time.

As citizens of this country we call on the PNM Government to desist from using the state apparatus of the Police to support exploitation and suppress dissent. Dissent is a Right not a privilege granted by any state.

As citizens of the world, we call on the Chinese Government to ensure the safe return of the workers to their homes and not into some re-orientation camp.

As we approach the celebration of Divali – the time of enlightenment, of light over darkness, of knowledge over ignorance, we call on all citizens to welcome the Chinese in your area to a meal. To speak out against this treatment meted out to them. Otherwise, we will remain in an age of darkness.

With all due respect to and apologies for badly paraphrasing Pastor Martin Neimoller:

Then they came for the activists and trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an activist or trade unionist. Then they came for me — and by that time no one was left to speak up.

The Government should be smart enough to know that they cannot send their military arms of the state machinery for us, ready to create mayhem and havoc with the rights of citizens to dissent, protest and speak out loud as we try to cope with the downward spiral of our homeland. Everyone has the right of dissent. No one must be silenced.

October 14, 2009

| Attachments: NORRIS.jpg

TIWU Will Not Tolerate Treatment of Migrant Workers

posted 15 Oct 2009 00:53 by Gerry Kangalee [ updated 16 Oct 2009 17:26 by Head Office ]

The Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) is appalled by the treatment meted out to the workers of the Chinese Construction Company Beijing Luijan.

These migrant workers live under inhumane conditions and are ruthlessly exploited by their employers with the silent connivance of the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

When the workers who claim they have not been paid for months and who actually had to pay the company to secure work in T&T, protested, quite rightly, for their money riot police were summoned to terrorise and intimidate them for claiming their entitlement.

TIWU is mindful of our history of slavery and indentureship where our ancestors came to a strange land, unable to speak the language, were forced to live in barrack-like conditions and to work long hours for little or no compensation. Are we going back to the days of indentureship? The only thing that is different is that the Chinese migrant workers live, not in barracks, but in containers and concentration camps.

Imagine these atrocities are taking place under the watch of the Manning regime with a Minister of Labour who seems to have neither power nor influence to ensure that the laws of T&T are complied with. We, in T&T, including in the labour movement, have remained silent for too long.

When the Chinese migrant workers laboured like dogs to complete the Tranquillity school on time they were held up as models for local workers. Who cared that their conditions of work were slavery-like. The attitude is work hard, shut your mouth and take whatever we feel to give you.

TIWU calls on the government the Minister of Labour, to intervene in a firm manner to stop this blatant exploitation of labour and to ensure that these workers receive their entitlements. The decent work agenda to which the government purports to subscribe demands no less. The International Labour Organisation should investigate this matter closely

TIWU calls upon the government to review all contractors with Chinese firms and ensure that the workers they bring in this country are treated like human beings and afforded conditions no less advantageous than that enjoyed by workers of T&T.

It seems that the atrocious treatment of the Chinese migrant workers is the model that the government wants to use to suppress the workers of PTSC, WASA, TSTT and other state enterprises. If we allow them to continue the ruthless exploitation and suppression of migrant workers, then how can we argue when they treat us in the same way? We will not tolerate it.

indentureship

posted 15 Oct 2009 00:35 by Gerry Kangalee

‹ Prev 1-10 of 14 Next ›

National Workers Union

Recent site activity

Media Releases

CONGRATS TO PAN TRINBAGO

The National Workers' Union (NWU) extends congratulations to Pan Trinbago on the holding of its recent executive elections.

The NWU further extends congratulations to new president of the world governing body for Pan, Keith Diaz and all the officers who have been elected to run this important organisation for the next period.