Trade unionist warns of civil unrest

A LEADING trade unionist has warned Government of civil unrest unless the Manning administration review its position on the future of the nation’s dock workers. In a fiery address at yesterday’s Labour Day celebrations in Fyzabad, Seamen & Water-front’s Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) president Michael Annisette, said Government was “sowing the seeds of discontent” by restructuring the port of Port- of-Spain without consulting dock workers. “I am sending a warning to the government that the holiday with the SWWTU has come to an end, and if we do not see an immediate improvement in the employment of local seafarers and offshore workers, there will be unrest in Trinidad and Tobago,” Annisette stated. He said locals were being made to compete against foreign nationals for jobs at the national port. He also alleged that government’s preferred partner in the Port restructuring project “does not like the trade union movement.” Annisette, who was one of the feature speakers at the NATUC rally, also called for a united trade union movement to confront the challenges that would be presented by the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas,(FTAA). Also addressing the rally was All Trinidad Sugar & General Workers Trade Union (ATS&GWTU) president-general, Rudy Indarsingh, who presented government with an entire shopping list of demands including a $1,000 increase for NIS pensioners. “Government must honour its election promise to increase NIS pensions to $1,000,” Indarsingh said. Indarsingh, who deputised for president Robert Guiseppi, also called for a united trade union movement. He said a united labour movement would reclaim its responsibility and bring pressure on the Government to act in the best interests of all society.