NATUC praises Govt, Opposition

THE OPPOSITION United National Congress (UNC) has won the heart of the National Trade Union Council (NATUC)  for supporting the Occupational Safety and Health Authority Bill in Parliament “in spite of its stated position of non-support for the Government in relation to constitutional reform.” NATUC expressed its sentiments in a New Year’s message in which it also congratulated the Minister of Labour Lawrence Achong for another reason. The Minister won plaudits for championing the cause of workers at Carlisle Tyre in Point Fortin, through his successful action at the level of the Industrial Court where he sought and was granted an injunction against the tyre company which attempted to go into liquidation without fulfilling certain legal obligations.

“This was an historic development in that it was the first occasion on which a labour minister took out an injunction in favour of workers,” said NATUC. The parent labour body also blew whistles for Minister Achong for bringing the Health and Safety Bill to Parliament. Looking ahead, NATUC sees 2004 as a watershed year in the history of workers in Trinidad and Tobago, and it has pledged to make itself ready for the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). NATUC assured that it will work with the American trade union movement to ensure that FTAA brings labour standards with it to protect the interests of workers “since our market would see the entry of employers from some countries in Latin America where labour standards are very low.” NATUC’s main concern is that FTAA would result in local industries being wiped off the face of the map, due to stringent competition from participants in the FTAA market. NATUC said it realises that FTAA would bring challenges in 2005 and beyond, some of which will present opportunities, but most of which will present threats to the economic well-being of workers in Trinidad and Tobago.