Dull Labour Day marches in South

THE traditional street march in commemoration of Labour Day was a low-key affair this year with rain and disorganisation contributing to a much smaller crowd turnout than in previous years. Thousands turned out for the traditional march and rally to Charlie King Junction, but they did so under the two umbrella union organisations — Federation of Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN) and National Trade Union Centre (NATUC). Heavily-armed policemen barricaded the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union-sponsored FITUN union members on Charlie King Junction, as NATUC’s 11-strong union marchers marched past to hold their own rally and meeting a short distance away.

NATUC’s march from Avocat Junction failed to assemble its members on time, resulting in a lack-lustre procession. The NATUC faction’s main union leaders failed to show at the start, resulting in Contractors and General Workers’ Trade Union (CGWTU) making the start with about 20 marchers around 11.30 am. NATUC president Robert Guiseppi is currently in Geneva and vice president Owen Hinds was scheduled to take the lead. Hinds, however, turned up well after the NATUC members began  marching — two and a half hours after the scheduled 9 am start. Also noticeably absent from the NATUC’s faction was Vincent Cabrera, president of Bankers, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU). However, the union showed a strong presence with approximately 500 members.

Previous years saw several thousand union members in the traditional Labour Day Fyzabad march, but police estimate yesterday, NATUC’s procession totalled approximately 1,000 members.  Heavy rains early yesterday morning put a damper on the celebration, resulting in both FITUN and NATUC unionists having to wait long hours on Avocat Junction for their members to arrive. Eventually, NATUC gave way to FITUN to proceed with its march and led by Errol McLeod and David Abdullah, the umbrella body kicked off proceedings. Trade unions CWU, TICFA, PSA, Estate Police Association, marched with FITUN. NATUC’S membership followed with a contingent of marchers from the National Union of Government and Federated Workers; Transport and Industrial Workers Union; All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union led by President Rudranath Indarsingh; Steel Workers and General Trade Union; Postal Workers Union and Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union.

By 1 pm the FITUN-led unions had reached Charlie King Junction. NATUC followed close behind amidst a heavy presence of armed police, some of whom were on horses. When NATUC members approached the famous junction considered the venue of the birth of the labour movement, FITUN’s membership had already assembled in their hundreds. Bracing for the approaching NATUC’s union membership, heavily-armed police officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch and Crime Suppression Unit barricaded the Charlie King Junction crowd of FITUN’s marchers. This was done to allow a peaceful procession of NATUC’s membership to approach the junction and march into the Fyzabad Main Road. They assembled at a separate venue close to the Fyzabad Police Station.