NATUC pushes for monorail system

THE NATIONAL Trade Union Centre has called for the introduction of a monorail system to ease traffic congestion on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway.

Other proposals put forward by the NATUC for the 2003-2004 budget, to be presented later this month, include the establishment of a National minimum wage, an increase in old-age and NIS pensions and lower mortgage interest rates for first-time homeowners. In its nine-page budget proposal, NATUC noted that TT was presently working towards the goal of achieving developed-nation status by the year 2020. Therefore, it said, the 2003-2004 budget must establish a platform of policies for this process. NATUC noted that in light of the impending gas boom, which is expected to bring tremendous revenues into the country, it was imperative that government ensures that the income of the working poor is enhanced by the establishment of a National minimum wage. An acceptable living minimum wage of more than $10 per hour must be offered, it asserted, especially to those employed in the services sector, including the fast food industry.

Traffic jams were still a problem along the East-West Corridor, therefore, NATUC said, serious consideration should be given to the introduction of a monorail system or archways to ease this congestion problem. “Work must begin immediately and must take into account that the working population will increase by 15,000 persons per annum over the next three years,” it maintained. It revealed that in a working population of 490,000 persons, at least 260,000 or 53 percent earned less than $2,000 per month. This means that more than half of the working population earn less than $92 per day. Of this figure, 79,000 earn $34 per day. The Union also noted that given developments with respect to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), there was a likelihood that many businesses will take advantage of this and pay low wages. This would lead to a tremendous inequity in society. Therefore, NATUC stressed, government needed to establish a Commission to ascertain the formulation of this national living wage.

It was also important to adequately staff the Ministry of Labour with the appropriate manpower to ensure effective and regularly enforced compliance with the minimum wages order. In the case of proposals for old-age pension (OAP), NATUC recommended that provisions be made for the OAP to be increased on an annual basis, based on the increase in the food component of the Retail Price Index. It was also suggested that it be paid to all persons 65 years and over. “This is based on the principle of universality to ensure that every citizen is kept above the poverty line,” it stated. NIS pensions should also show an increase, NATUC stressed, now being set at $1,000 per month, with all other classes of NIS pension payments being concomitantly increased.