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| Finance Minister Winston Dookeran displays a flyer calling on workers to join Tuesday's 'No Work' demonstration |
The warning came from Finance Minister Winston Dookeran, Public Administration Minister Rudrawatee Nan Ramgoolam and Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal on the eve of Tuesday's "No Work Day" protest by the Public Services Association (PSA).
PSA President Watson Duke told media the day before that his union had planed a "massive, massive" work stoppage and that he expected about 25,000 people to join the six-hour protest in Port of Spain, starting at one in the afternoon.
Duke said he had police permission for the march and that any other trade union that refused to join the demonstration would face censure.
The government ministers called the action illegal under the Industrial Relations Act 69 (1). Dookeran pointed out that the Act imposes penalties on public servants and trade unionists who contravened its provisions.
Dookeran was emphatic that he was not threatening public servants, "but was simply outlining the state of affairs", in the light of the PSA advertisements appearing in the press which call for no work. Such action, he said, is tantamount to a strike.
"Obviously as a Government we must uphold the law. But we hope at this stage good sense would prevail," Dookeran said, adding that the Government anticipates that the PSA would demonstrate a sense of responsibility and not break the law.
With respect to the negotiations with the PSA, Dookeran said Government is offering a consolidated Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) ranging from a 9 per cent increase for the lower income groups in the public service to 6 per cent at the higher level of the service.
"In the context of what is happening globally, this must indeed be considered to be an ambitious proposal as we intend to ensure that the national balance sheet of this country is sustainable and can provide the basis for economic recovery," he said.
The PSA president reacted angrily by saying the union and public servants would not be "bullied". Watson Duke if Government takes legal action against his members, "It would be blow for blow, punch for punch, force for force. We are not going to allow anybody to dispossess us of our finances and walk away smiling".
Duke added, "We are not afraid of the law. Let them use the law. We would use whatever tool we have, to fight against oppression," he said. He issued his own warning, saying that "29 seats cannot bully 1.3 million seats".
Duke said staying away from work is not necessarily taking illegal strike action because people suffering from stress might need to walk in a demonstration to relieve that stress. "Clearly we are not protesting. We are highlighting an issue that has escaped the eyes of the Government," he said.
The government ministers called the action illegal under the Industrial Relations Act 69 (1). Dookeran pointed out that the Act imposes penalties on public servants and trade unionists who contravened its provisions.
Dookeran was emphatic that he was not threatening public servants, "but was simply outlining the state of affairs", in the light of the PSA advertisements appearing in the press which call for no work. Such action, he said, is tantamount to a strike.
"Obviously as a Government we must uphold the law. But we hope at this stage good sense would prevail," Dookeran said, adding that the Government anticipates that the PSA would demonstrate a sense of responsibility and not break the law.
With respect to the negotiations with the PSA, Dookeran said Government is offering a consolidated Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) ranging from a 9 per cent increase for the lower income groups in the public service to 6 per cent at the higher level of the service.
"In the context of what is happening globally, this must indeed be considered to be an ambitious proposal as we intend to ensure that the national balance sheet of this country is sustainable and can provide the basis for economic recovery," he said.
The PSA president reacted angrily by saying the union and public servants would not be "bullied". Watson Duke if Government takes legal action against his members, "It would be blow for blow, punch for punch, force for force. We are not going to allow anybody to dispossess us of our finances and walk away smiling".
Duke added, "We are not afraid of the law. Let them use the law. We would use whatever tool we have, to fight against oppression," he said. He issued his own warning, saying that "29 seats cannot bully 1.3 million seats".
Duke said staying away from work is not necessarily taking illegal strike action because people suffering from stress might need to walk in a demonstration to relieve that stress. "Clearly we are not protesting. We are highlighting an issue that has escaped the eyes of the Government," he said.
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