Four groups of workers join NATUC

THE NATIONAL Trade Union Centre (NATUC), parent body of the majority of trade unions in Trinidad and Tobago has strengthened its membership, with the addition of four new affiliates. The new members are the Zoo Keepers Association (ZKA); the Medical Professionals Association (MPATT); the National Union of Domestic Employees (NUDE) and TTT Senior Staff Association. The President of NATUC, Robert Giuseppi made the discosure recently at NATUC’s 2003 triennial convention. He did not deny though that the loss of a number of larger affiliates has had a serious impact on the national labour body’s financial base.

According to Giuseppi, “those who have chosen to divide labour, have strengthened the position of those opposed to our interests.” He said he was pleased that the level of work done by NATUC over the last two years, easily outshone what was done over much of the previous years. “We have built a good working relationship with our comrades in the Cuban Trade Union Centre and made a serious contribution to discussions on how to combat the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA),” said Giuseppi. He returned yesterday from Miami where he attended an important international trade union conference organised by ORIT — the Americas Region of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). He described the conference as a major success.