The workers of SuperMix had gained recognition for their union: the National Union of Domestic Employees (NUDE). The company has appealed the decision of the Recognition Board and is refusing to meet with the union to begin collective bargaining.

 

The vast majority of the workers are women: their wages are miniscule and their working conditions are horrendous and, in many cases, downright dangerous. The management treats them with contempt and the workers have begun to fight back, hence their organising themselves into the union. The workers for the past few days have been wearing red bandanas to work calling for negotiations to begin.

 

On Monday 8th March programme some of the workers' reps together with their union leader, Comrade Ida Le Blanc appeared on Andy Johnson's Morning Edition on CCNTV and after four o clock on the afternoon of March 8th the workers organised their demonstration.

 

In a panic the company which produces the well-known Arawak chicken, closed certain departments in an effort to weaken the workers’ positive action: all to no avail. The workers had had enough and in that determined way working class women have nothing could shift their resolve to transform their miserable and downright dangerous working conditions.

 

The workers chanted their slogans, rang their bells and brought forcefully to the attention of commuters the horrendous exploitation they have to undergo to produce the chicken that the fast food industry sells at inflated prices to consumers.

 

Joining the workers on the picket line were executive officers of the National Workers’ Union (NWU), which works closely with NUDE in materialising its slogan - Organise the unorganised! The workers were addressed by NUDE General Secretary, Comrade Ida Le Blanc and by NWU officials: President, Comrade Frank Sears; General Secretary, Comrade Dave Smith and Treasurer, Comrade Sylvestre McLaren.

 

Nearing the end of the demonstration the workers were joined by Executive officers of the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union: President Sutherland, Vice President Pollidore and Executive Officer Burgess.

 

The workers have vowed to keep up the pressure through lunch-time picketing and have decided to circulate a petition outlining their demands.

 

The demonstration by the SuperMix workers was certainly in stark contrast to other International Women’s’ Day activities in T&T which are controlled by the government. It is certainly at the other end of the spectrum from functions where self-satisfied politicians congratulate each other at five star hotels and navel-gaze at how far they have come, while ignoring the conditions besetting the vast majority of women – those from the working class.

 

SuperMix workers have emphatically returned International Women’s Day to its roots in the working class movement.