Unions will not negotiate with anyone but PM Kamla

The president general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) is insisting that trade unions will shut down Trinidad and Tobago unless the government responds positively to demands sent last week to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

And Ancel Roget said the unions would not negotiate with anyone but Persad Bissessar on the wage issue.

“We will not speak with any minister, junior or senior, the Minister of Labour, Minister of Energy, Minister of Public Utilities, the disrespectful Minister of Housing, none of the ministers. We are not going to meet with them,” he said

“She must respond to that document that was delivered to her.” He also issued a warning: “You came to us and you committed to treat the labour movement and the workers differently. Today, the opposite is the true and we are going to shut down this country without apology.”

The demands include:

• The removal of 5% wage cap and settlement of all outstanding negotiations 
• Disbanding and removal of the Inter-Ministerial Committee 
• Placement of labour legislation high on Government's agenda 
• Constitutional Reform and immediate implementation of the Labour Market Survey for TTUTA 
• Commencement of a land use and Agriculture Policy 
• Reinstatement of all displaced workers on account of the non-renewal of their contracts 
• Restricting of the Project Implementation Unit and review of the National Youth Policy