Errol McLeod signed the Fyzabad Declaration on behalf of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) but faced the polls and won his parliamentary seat in the 2010 general election as a candidate for the United National Congress (UNC).
While other politicians on the platform wore their party colours and symbols, Mc Leod was dressed in a neutral casual shirt as he lamented the absence of the MSJ as he addressed the huge audience including "my working class comrades that might be gathered here".
McLeod said at a different time he might have been speaking as a representative of the MSJ but noted that "that vehicle has taken a detour".
However when he stood up to speak at Thursday's 2nd anniversary rally of the People's Partnership at Mid Centre Mall in Chaguanas he was neither MSJ nor UNC; he was the minister of labour and MP for Point-a-Pierre.
While other politicians on the platform wore their party colours and symbols, Mc Leod was dressed in a neutral casual shirt as he lamented the absence of the MSJ as he addressed the huge audience including "my working class comrades that might be gathered here".
McLeod said at a different time he might have been speaking as a representative of the MSJ but noted that "that vehicle has taken a detour".
The minister said all his life he has been engaged in the struggle on behalf of the working class and was emphatic that his commitment has not and will not change. However he said he would not be drawn into a narrow, partisan battle.
"Any attempt to disinterest me in pursuing the broader interest is a barren tool and it is doomed to failure," he added.
Without naming anyone or any group he clearly took a turn against the union he once headed, the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union, currently led by Ancel Roget. The OWTU has pledged to bring down the government and has demanded that the MSJ leave the partnership.
The labour minister stated that he has had to intervene in labour disputes to help both the workers and the organisations in which they are employed, citing T&TEC as an example.
He also spoke of his intervention in February this year to prevent an attempt to shut down the state energy company, Petrotrin.
McLeod made it clear that he saw that as a "punitive" strike and an attempt to cripple the economy to coincide with carnival and a planned opposition move against the government in a no-confidence motion in Parliament against the Prime Minister.
He distanced himself from such union activities.
Mcleod said as a minister he is seeking to ensure the Industrial Court has all the required resources to serve in the best interest of workers and business, adding that the PP remains committed to labour legislation that seeks the interests of the working class.
McLeod noted that the government's focus is on helping the working class and mentioned the Maternity Protection Act and the National Minimum Wage as examples.
He said 85 per cent of all workers in the country are employed in small and medium sized businesses and promised to ensure that such enterprises have greater access to government contracts through a fair share programme. He also pledged that the government would enact legislation to protect workers and devote resources to training to meet the requirements of the labour market.
He also promised to protect workers from the threat of losing jobs to foreigners. "We will not have migrant workers coming into Trinidad & Tobago to the detriment of our workers," he said.
McLeod's address was interrupted by the arrival of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who made her way through the thick crowd protected by a strong contingent of security personnel.
He concluded his speech by declaring that the People's Partnership remains strong and is committed to the people. "The dream continues," he said.
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